Craig Scott

Tue 17 March 2020 16:30, UK

Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips will have to remain patient in his bid to play for England after it was confirmed on Tuesday that Euro 2020 has been postponed.

The Norwegian FA have announced via their official Twitter account that the competition will now be played between June 11 and July 11 2021, rather than this summer due to the current coronavirus pandemic that is wreaking havoc on the football schedule.

It is a shame that we’ll have to wait another year for the European Championships, especially after England did so well at the World Cup in 2018. However, in a bid to get club football back on track, it makes a lot of sense.

Phillips, 24, is bound to have been gutted with this announcement because the Leeds midfielder has been tipped by a lot of fans and pundits to play for England.

The currently-uncapped midfielder has been a real star for the Whites under Marcelo Bielsa’s leadership and based on the poor options that England have in his defensive midfield position, a call-up for Euro 2020 was likely to be on the cards.

But while it is a blow for now, Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth has claimed that the postponement of the European Championships could actually work in Phillips’ favour.

“The likelihood of his involvement just increased, I reckon,” he said via his personal Twitter account on Tuesday.

Ultimately, the chances of Phillips getting a call-up are going to depend on how he plays once football reconvenes.

But you would imagine that by the time next summer comes around, Phillips will have played some Premier League football for Leeds or whoever might end up signing him in the time between now and then.

Let’s hope it’s for Leeds but the chance of him getting top-flight experience is bound to increase his chances, as Smyth points out.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites have reached an agreement with their promotion rivals after an emergency meeting on Monday.