The 23-year-old has sympathy for his Leeds team-mate.
Leeds United midfielder Tom Adeyemi believes Kalvin Phillips was unlucky to miss the Yorkshire side’s 2-1 win at Derby County on Saturday afternoon, according to BBC Radio Leeds.
Indeed, Uwe Rosler’s Whites won at Derby thanks to a late strike from Chris Wood, with Adeyemi also on the scoresheet for United.
But in-form Phillips was forced out of the side due to the reintroduction of Lewis Cook. And Adeyemi sympathises with the 19-year-old, considering the performances he has put in for Leeds so far this campaign.
Adeyemi told BBC Radio Leeds: “It’s a really competitive midfield. Cooky has fitted in seamlessly. Then you’ve got Kalvin Phillips, who will probably feel he is unlucky not to play today because he did well in Cooky’s absence.”
| v Derby | Chances Created | Dribbles | Final-Third Passes | Passes | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Cook | 3 | 1 | 12 | 33 | 90 |
| Sam Byram | 2 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 69 |
| Sol Bamba | 1 | 1 | 5 | 31 | 90 |
| Liam Cooper | 0 | 2 | 4 | 32 | 90 |
| Alex Mowatt | 0 | 0 | 17 | 28 | 75 |
As Opta stats show, Cook added plenty of creativity to Leeds’ midfield, creating three chances and completing 33 passes – 12 of them in the final third.
The 18-year-old was also involved in Wood’s winner and generally impressed for the Whites.
As Adeyemi states, though, Phillips is an unlucky absentee making way for the teenager. The promising duo add plenty of depth to a generally thin Leeds squad and both are currently giving boss Rosler a welcome selection dilemma.
After the international break, the Whites will host Rosler’s old side Brentford at Elland Road, before facing Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town.
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