Rio Ferdinand has leapt to the defence of Kalvin Phillips’s England selection and bemoaned any suggestion James Ward-Prowse should have made the cut instead.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand responded to one co-presenter’s doubt around Phillips’s place in the national squad for Euro 2020.
Co-host Stephen Howson suggested the Southampton man should have made the cut and even suggested he should have been in ahead of Phillips.
“A dead-ball specialist as a sub ain’t the one,” the former Leeds United defender said.
“If you’re dead-ball specialist and you’re playing then I get it, but you can’t be a dead ball specialist and you’re on the bench 99 per cent of the time.”
“He should have started for me though,” Howson responded.
Ferdinand said: “Get out of your car and give your head a shake! Ahead of who? Who is he starting ahead of?
“Have you not seen my man Bellingham? You would have Ward-Prowse ahead of Phillips?”
Howson said: “Yeah, maybe even ahead of Phillips.”
Ferdinand finished: “Nah, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
It remains to be seen who comes into the squad after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury this week. Phillips will hope to feature in the next friendly with Romania.
