Kalvin Phillips has revealed his Leeds United team-mate Luke Ayling's brilliant reaction to finding out the Thorp Arch graduate had been named in England's Euro 2020 squad.
Phillips' place in Gareth Southgate's final 26-man squad was confirmed last Tuesday, with the 25-year-old overcoming a dislocated shoulder in Leeds' final match of the season to get the nod ahead of his first taste of a major tournament with the Three Lions.
The Leeds midfielder won his eighth cap on Sunday when he played the first 45 minutes of England's final warm-up match against Romania and will now look to impress Southgate enough to be included in the starting line-up when the Three Lions' Euro 2020 tilt finally gets underway on Sunday afternoon against Croatia.
Phillips has enjoyed huge support from his Elland Road team-mates in one of the Premier League's most tightly-knit squads, with Ayling quick to represent his colleague and friend.
"It's a surreal feeling," Phillips told the media at the weekend. "I got a message from my Leeds team-mate Luke Ayling who just went out and bought his England shirt with my name and number on the back. It's a weird feeling because I never thought I'd be in this position, but to be here is a surreal feeling and I'm just happy to be here."
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Throughout this career Phillips has been quick to recognise the role that his family have played in his progression from a young fringe first-teamer at Elland Road into a fully-fledged international.
"I cant express how much my family have been involved in my footballing in life and my life in general," he added. "My grandma passed away sadly, but my mum, my girlfriend and my sister - all the women in my family have been very supportive of me and I'm forever grateful and I'll try and make them proud."
Phillips was also asked what he was doing during Euro 2016, in which England suffered a shock last-16 defeat to Iceland, with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Dele Ali and Eric Dier featured in the central midfield role that the Leeds man will hope to make his own in the coming weeks.
"I can just remember being in my living room with a few friends. I had the flags outside my house and everything. When you think about it you get goosebumps and the memories will stick with me."
