Patrick Bamford told Sky Sports that those ‘away from Leeds’ have been thinking that there is ‘no way’ Kalvin Phillips can be a holding midfielder for England.
The Leeds striker thinks Phillips has been England’s ‘most consistent’ performer at Euro 2020, alongside Everton shot-stopper, Jordan Pickford.
The Leeds and Everton duo started for their country on Tuesday as they beat the German’s in a knockout game for the first time in 55 years.
It could be argued that both Phillips and Pickford could have walked away with the Man of the Match award, with the Leeds man sending Toni Kroos into retirement and Everton’s star man pulling off several stunning saves.
Either way, Bamford thinks there has been a perception that Phillips isn’t good enough to play in midfield for his country and there are times where he is still going ‘unnoticed’.
“When he went into the tournament, he probably had a lot of doubters,” said Bamford. “People away from Leeds, who were probably thinking ‘there’s no way he can be our holding midfielder or one of.’
“But he has shown that he is more than capable. He’s probably been the most consistent performer in the team, alongside Jordan Pickford.
“I think he deserves every accolade he’s going to get coming towards him, but in some games, he has gone unnoticed and sometimes I have noticed they have given him 5/10.
“I think he has actually played well, but because he’s not done anything that has stood out. He has just done his job, which is what he’s supposed to do – but people are now starting to appreciate him more.”
Aside from the game against Scotland, where several England players were questioned, it has been a quite stunning tournament from Phillips.
From bossing Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric in the opening game to outperforming his Real Madrid teammate and 2014 World Cup winner, Kroos, on Tuesday.
Phillips has come a long way since the days where he was a fresh-faced attack-minded midfielder trying to get his boyhood club out of the Championship.
But the problem facing Phillips now is that he, Declan Rice and Harry Maguire are all on yellow cards heading into the quarter-finals.
And given the trio are at risk of missing the semi-final stages if booked against Ukraine, then the logical call might be to rest at least one of them at the weekend.
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