Danny Murphy suggests Kalvin Phillips is being wasted at Leeds United
Danny Murphy paid a glowing tribute to England midfielder Kalvin Phillips on Monday but suggested Marcelo Bielsa is wasting his talents at Leeds United.
The former Liverpool player was speaking on talkSPORT [12/07/21] the day after the Three Lions lost to Italy on penalties in the final of the European Championship.
“I just wanted to give Kalvin Phillips a quick mention,” he said.
“To play one season in the Premier League and build up your international experience while you’re doing that…it’s hard enough just adapting to play in the Premier League.
“He’s gone into the Premier League comfortable and confident, he’s just adjusted so easily.
“Then he’s been thrust into the international scene, then got put into a huge tournament where people are saying ‘should he play, should he not’, he’s just taken it all in his side and shown an unbelievable temperament.”
Jim White remarked: “He stays on the pitch as well.”
Murphy: “Temperament, fitness and quality.
“I actually think that although Leeds play him in that holding role, I actually like him a bit further ahead with the insurance of someone behind him, because he’s technically good enough to make and score goals.
“As he progresses in his career, I think he could be a bit of a waste just having him in a holding role.”
Bielsa knows best
We think Bielsa will be the best judge over the 25-year-old’s best position.
Phillips started his career in a more advanced midfield role before the Argentine made the bold move to mould him into a deep-lying midfield player.
He has been an unqualified success in that position ever since, helping Leeds to a long-awaited promotion in the 2018/19 campaign before playing a key role in last season’s top-10 Premier League finish.
However, he has shown his adaptability for England after operating in a higher position to hassle and harry the opposition.
Phillips has shown he can do it all, but we Bielsa to pick the team and the strongest players in each position.
It does, though, suggest that Phillips can be used in a variety of roles if and when Bielsa chooses to switch things up, or if his hand is forced by injuries.
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