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Nigel Martyn waxes lyrical of Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips
Leeds United legend Nigel Martyn was impressed with Kalvin Phillips’ performance against Burnley.
The Whites went to Turf Moor expecting a tough game against a resolute Burnley side but enjoyed a comfortable afternoon and ran out 4-0 winners.
Mateusz Klich’s long-range effort along with Rodrigo’s brace may have stolen the show, but Phillips was back to doing what he does best – spraying balls from his own half right into the attacking third.
He played a 50-yard pass right into the stride of Jack Harrison which resulted in Rodrigo putting the ball past former Whites keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell to extend his side’s advantage.
Speaking about that passage of play to Leeds United News, Martyn said, “That is one that I would do one in 50, but he does it eight out of 10. It was pure quality wasn’t it, a joy to watch.
“That was a really tough technique, but it was inch-perfect. With him, he made it look so easy. That is the hallmark of a class footballer, they make things look easy. Slice it, kick the floor, I’d break a left ankle.
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“It was absolute quality, he didn’t even have to break stride. I saw it on Match of the Day, stopped it and rewound it to see who it was, and they did it in the analysis. Not bad.”
Absolute class
We’ve watched that video over 50 times are still not quite satisfied. It was a moment of pure brilliance and showed why he is one of the league’s best midfield players.
Even since his Championship days, he has been on Gareth Southgate’s radar and since moving to the Premier League he’s taken his game to the next level.
Center-back Curtis Davies who’s seen a lot of him in the Championship has referred to him as ‘phenomenal’. [Sky Sports via This is Futbol]
With Jordan Henderson, we won’t be surprised to see him being a regular starter for England at the Euros.
Often players in his position are rightly criticised for keeping it simple and playing backward passes. That increases their passing stats but their impact on the game is minimal.
Phillips isn’t like that. Even against Burnley, he always had an eye for a forward pass – with only 9 of his 37 passes being played backwards. He also created one big chance. [WyScout]
Within a year or two he could be England’s best midfielder and a key player in the Three Lions’ World Cup squad.