Ian Wright has told Premier League Productions during their live coverage of Leeds United’s defeat at the London Stadium that they ‘struggle’ without Kalvin Phillips.
After a small period of absence from the side, Leeds’ star man was back on the pitch for yesterday’s showdown but he couldn’t do enough to stop the Hammers from picking up all three points.
Phillips sits as that single pivot for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, with his form for his club this season being rewarded by his national boss, Gareth Southgate, who has called him up on several occasions.
Nonetheless, Wright shared that Leeds should have ‘easily’ scored two goals last night, as he commented on Phillips’ importance to the team.
“What Kalvin Phillips does is he does mop up,” said Wright. “He does get the ball to players for them to do their stuff.
“And as much as Leeds didn’t dominate and do very well, in respect of the chances created, especially the first half, they did enough in the second half to get something out of the game.
“You look at Phillips, when he isn’t playing for Leeds, they do struggle but when he plays there is stability and a solidness that they have and they can build on.
“Even though they didn’t win, they should have, at least, scored two. Easily.”
It will be interesting to see how far Phillips’ performances for Leeds will take him and whether he will be on that plane to this summer’s delayed Euros.
Whilst there is a traffic jam of players in the final third for the Three Lions, the same cannot be said for those ten yards behind them because there aren’t many options to choose from.
But Phillips, alongside the guy he battled with last night, Declan Rice, they are two of the shining lights and surely Southgate has to have them on that plane in the summer.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
