Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa has heaped praise on midfielder Kalvin Phillips after his recent run of fine form.
The midfield enforcer, who is commonly known as the 'Yorkshire Pirlo' among the Leeds support, has been nothing short of outstanding this season, proving just how key it was for the Whites to keep hold of him last summer.
The 24-year-old, who has started all but one (due to suspension) of United's 26 Championship games so far this season, has been influential in midfield for Bielsa.
And after being heavily linked with moves to the Premier League last summer, Phillips proved just how capable he would be of making the step-up, delivering an assured showing in Monday evening's slender 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium.
Addressing the media ahead of Saturday's Yorkshire derby showdown with Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road, Bielsa spoke of his pride in Phillips's recent showings, said: "Kalvin’s playing excellent. He’s regular. He always plays, he always plays well. He make a lot of effort for the team.
"He's a character player, good personality. He takes risks. The responsibility doesn't inhibit him. In the last match he played against [Mesut] Ozil and [Joseph] Willock - I think he approved very well with this exam against them."
Phillips put pen to paper on a new five-year deal back in September and has made over 170 appearances for his hometown club.
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