Adebayo Akinfenwa has labelled Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips as a ‘baller’, as he told Sky Sports.
The Wycombe striker, who is the strongest footballer in the world according to FIFA, stated that the Leeds midfielder wouldn’t be selected in his final England World Cup squad right now because he is injured.
Luckily for someone like Phillips, the World Cup in Qatar won’t take place in the summer, but in November.
That provides the 26-year-old to leave his best form for the start of the next campaign and get back into the Three Lions squad.
Nonetheless, this is what Akinfenwa had to say regarding Phillips and whether he would be in his final 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar.
“I think he’s a baller,” said Akinfenwa. “I can only go off the players that have played.
“I know there will be a bit of next season to go. But, if we are going off now, then Phillips isn’t playing. That’s all I am going off. But that’s just off now.
“But he’s a baller and he comes back next season, then it’s a different conversation.”
At Euro 2020, Phillips was one of the star men for his country as they narrowly missed out on glory.
Even though the hard-hitting midfielder had never played in a major tournament before, just like his partner in crime, Declan Rice, they both thrived in the middle of the park.
Gareth Southgate is loyal to his players and that partnership won’t be forgotten about by the England boss, even if he hasn’t been able to use it much since.
It’s just a case of Phillips being ready and injury-free for when the World Cup comes about because he is going to be one of his side’s key players.
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