Sky Sports pundit shares what Garry Monk recently told him about Leeds ace Kalvin Phillips
Garry Monk feels a lot of pride about how midfielder Kalvin Phillips has improved at Leeds United, according to David Prutton.
Phillips, 25, wasn’t exactly a first-team regular during Monk’s reign as manager at Elland Road between 2016 and 2017 but the midfielder did come on leaps and bounds under his charge.
After Monk’s departure, Phillips’ place in the starting line-up was no more secure when Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom were managers but since Marcelo Bielsa’s arrival in West Yorkshire, he’s the first name on the team sheet.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Sky Sports pundit and ex-Leeds midfielder Prutton shared what he was recently told about Phillips.
“Then we have seen the evolution of Kalvin Philips and I have spoken to Garry Monk and Andy Hughes recently and there is a real sense of pride about what he has done.
“I am not saying Garry made him this and that but he saw him for a portion of his journey and now he looks at what he has become.”
Monk one of many reasons Phillips is where he is
Bielsa often gets all the credit for Phillips’ rise because, after all, it was him who transformed him into a holding midfielder and has seen his rise from mid-table Championship man to England international and Premier League star.
But Bielsa’s not the only reason Phillips is where he is.
Let’s not forget all the coaches who trained Phillips through the academy, Neil Redfearn for handing him his senior debut and all the other managers and coaches who’ve made an impact on the midfielder’s journey.
But, most importantly, let’s not forget that Phillips has done this himself. He’s the one who’s taken all the advice on board and really improved himself to the point where he’s a shoo-in for the England squad at the European Championships in the summer.
Monk’s not trying to take any credit for Phillips’ rise here – we’re not sure why Prutton needed to clarify that – but he was important in terms of the midfielder’s career.
Monk showed a lot of faith in Phillips and look at where he is now.
In other Leeds United news, Graham Smyth shares key update on strong Leeds links with Fikayo Tomori.