Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been backed to start in England’s Euro 2020 opener with Croatia on Sunday.
Phillips has enjoyed a life-changing last twelve months, after first helping his boyhood club to promotion to the Premier League, before then establishing himself as a regular in the Three Lions national team.
The 25-year-old made his debut for his country back in September, before even playing a minute of top-flight football, and is one of a number of England players taking part in their first major international tournament, alongside the likes of Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish and Declan Rice.
It is yet unclear as to whether manager Gareth Southgate will operate with a three-at-the-back formation, which would see England operate with just two midfielders.
Alternatively, Southgate may choose to stick with four defenders like in the two 1-0 Three Lions’ warm-up victories over Austria and Romania, which may give the Whites man a better opportunity of starting the match.
Phillips will be competing for a place at the heart of England’s midfield with a number of the country’s biggest stars, including Rice, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Borussia Dortmund’s 17-year-old starlet Jude Bellingham.
Despite the fierce competition, pundit Chris Sutton claims Phillips deserves to start thanks to his impressive performances in a Leeds shirt last term.
He said: “He’s had a terrific season for Leeds," wrote Suttion is his Daily Mail column.
“Big call from Southgate to play two holding midfielders. All-action, combative and uses the ball well.”
