‘Sir Alex always used to say…’ – Steve McClaren responds to Kalvin Phillips England question
Steve McClaren has claimed that Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips must learn to pass the ball forward more regularly if he is to become an England international.
The 24-year-old has been touted as a player who could force his way into the Three Lions’ plans for next summer’s European Championship by Gareth Southgate himself in recent weeks.
The Elland Road favourite impressed again with another assured performance in the 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday – a result that moved the Whites a step closer to a long-awaited Premier League return.
But McClaren, who managed the national side between August 2006 and November 2007, believes that Phillips is still a little way off the standard needed to compete on the biggest of stages.
Speaking on Sky Sports‘ coverage of Leeds’ clash with Fulham (Sky Sports Football, 2.45pm, June 27th), he said: “He’s played really really well, but I think he’s still got a lot more to do, certainly in that position.
“You’ve got to control the game a lot better than what he does.
“Sir Alex [Ferguson] always used to say that good midfielders always play their first pass forward. Always look forward and play forward.
“I think he needs to do that just a little bit more to become a really top class player. Getting in the Premier League will really improve him.”
With the greatest of respect to McClaren, we’re not really sure what he’s talking about here.
Phillips plays plenty of passes forward, and is often a key component on getting Leeds moving on the front foot.
In fact, a direct comparison with Declan Rice, who appears to be Southgate’s go-to deep-lying midfielder at the moment, clearly shows that he is head and shoulders ahead of what England already have in that position.
So far this season, Phillips has averaged 7.49 passes into the final third per game, compared to Rice’s 6.58, as per Wyscout.
Similarly, Phillips has recorded 1.79 passes into the box per 90 minutes, whereas Rice has just 0.63.
With that in mind, we would argue that McClaren has actually got this one wrong – Phillips is ready for England.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Naughty one’ – Sky Sports pundit shares verdict on Fulham controversy v Leeds.