Leeds scoop two main Championship gongs as national paper unveils EFL awards
Leeds United scooped both the Player of the Season and Manager of the Season awards as the Sun stepped in to conduct its own EFL awards.
The official EFL awards should have been held on Sunday night but with the football world in the grip of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Sun asked its EFL expert Justin Allen to do his own.
Kalvin Phillips was named as Championship Player of the Season with Allen calling him the “heartbeat of Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion-chasing team”.
Marcelo Bielsa was given the Championship Manager of the Season award.
In addition, three Leeds players made the team of the season, with Ben White, Luke Ayling and Phillips lining up in the best XI.
Phillips has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his career after Bielsa took over at Elland Road.
He’s been transformed from an average Championship midfielder, into a rock in the defensive mid position.
His star has risen so much, he’s been linked with a move to the Premier League as well as being tipped for a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Phillips signed a new contract with Leeds after the summer transfer window shut but it’s likely his future at the club will depend on promotion.
The same is probably true of Bielsa, who is unlikely to stay for a third season in the Championship.
The loss of both of them would be devastating for Leeds, which is why securing promotion is so vital this season.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay delivers Bielsa update with Leeds contract set to expire before season end