Leeds United duo Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Kalvin Phillips have impressed this term.
Pundit Noel Whelan has told the Sporting Life Championship podcast that he thinks Bailey Peacock-Farrell should be on England’s radar – but Kalvin Phillips isn’t quite ready.
Leeds have enjoyed a superb start to the season under new boss Marcelo Bielsa, as they have dropped just four points in the Championship, with their only defeat in all competitions coming at home to Preston North End in the Carabao Cup.
Bielsa is improving his players at Elland Road, as some new signings – such as Jamal Blackman, Lewis Baker, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford – are struggling for starts under the Argentinian.
One player who has certainly impressed is goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, as he has kept his place in goal and ensured that new signing Blackman has stayed on the bench.
The 21-year-old was called upon by former boss Paul Heckingbottom last season after the disappointing displays of Felix Weidwald and Andy Lonergan, making the position his own with some promising displays.
Now, pundit Noel Whelan has told the Sporting Life Championship podcast that he would be looking at Peacock-Farrell for an England spot after boss Gareth Southgate hinted he would look to the Championship for players.
Peacock-Farrell does have one friendly cap for Northern Ireland, meaning he would have to switch allegiance to make this a reality, but Whelan feels that the goalkeeper is ‘massively improving’ in many areas, and believes he has time on his side to break into Southgate’s plans.
However, Whelan doesn’t think that Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips is quite ready to be in Englands’ sights just yet, but with another couple of years, he could be in contention for the Three Lions himself.
“I think he’s massively improving,” said Whelan. “I’ve been watching him, his ball distribution has got so much better, he’s commanding the area, he’s got a lot braver, confidence is flowing through him at the moment and he’s very, very young so there’s loads of time left in him yet.”
“[Bradley Dack] is a bit like Kalvin Phillips; doing very well at the minute, in a side that’s very confident, but I still feel that these players need another season or two to learn their trade a little bit better,” he added.
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