Paul Robinson delivers verdict on Leeds United ace Kalvin Phillips after England win
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson has been waxing lyrical about Kalvin Phillips after the Leeds United midfielder starred for England in their win over Germany this week.
Phillips, 25, played all 90 minutes as the Three Lions marched into the quarter-finals of the European Championships with a 2-0 win.
Robinson was totally blown away by the Leeds midfielder and feels as though Gareth Southgate regards him highly as he wasn’t substituted off.
“From day one, he was only playing because Jordan Henderson wasn’t playing and from that point on, he’s been undroppable,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“Henderson came on to help see the game out but he could have taken Declan Rice or Phillips off – and it wasn’t Phillips.
“That says a lot about his status in the team.
“They’ve both been brilliant and they showed a lot of maturity.
“Obviously they both got booked but the way they handled themselves after, they were the best two on the field – they were brilliant.“
Phillips has played all 90 minutes in each of England’s four games at the Euros this summer.
Even though Henderson is back to full fitness, it does not see likely that the Liverpool captain will return to Southgate’s starting line-up any time soon.
If Phillips and Rice can help England beat Germany in the knock-out stages of a major international tournament then you don’t need anyone else.
Next up for England is a quarter-final against Ukraine.
It’ll be the first time the Three Lions play away from Wembley when they take to Rome on Saturday.
But we’re sure that if anyone can stand up to what could be testingly hot conditions in the Italian capital, Marcelo Bielsa-tuned Phillips is that man.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are just one step away from this major new signing.