Ian Harte has suggested that Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips deserves the chance to play for the England national team.
The former Leeds player feels that the 24-year-old midfielder was played the last season ‘out of his skin’ and that everyone thought he would be getting a national team call-up. However, Gareth Southgate didn’t consider him as an option.
Harte feels that he wasn’t given a chance because he was playing in the Championship and that Phillips ‘definitely deserves a chance’ after yet another brilliant campaign under Marcelo Bielsa. Leeds are at the top of the Championship table at the moment with 71 points from 37 matches, and are the favourites to go up with nine games remaining.
Phillips has made 31 appearances in the Championship for Leeds so far. He has scored one goal and has provided two assists for the Whites.
The dynamic midfielder has been an epitome of consistency for Leeds, and Harte has praised his ability to play out long diagonal passes.
Harte told Football League World: “I think the most important player is Kalvin Phillips. They suffer when he’s not in the team but when he is, defensively, they know that they’ve got the security of having him in front.
“He can play those long diagonal passes that open up teams. He’s definitely good enough to be in the England set-up but people are saying that you can only be picked if you’re playing in the Premier League.
“Kalvin was playing out of his skin last year and we thought he would get the opportunity but he never did because he’s in the Championship and every focus is on the Premier League. He definitely deserves a chance and hopefully Gareth Southgate will put him in his squad.”
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