Leeds United: Phillips handed incentive to break through by Evans

The Leeds-born midfielder, 20, broke through towards the end of last season and was afforded some game-time under Uwe Rosler at the start of the current campaign.

But he has found opportunities under Evans harder to come by, making

just six substitute appearances, with just one cameo this calendar year – in the 2-1

loss at Ipswich Town on January 12.

But Evans says that Phillips has every chance of featuring before the end of the season, if his performances in training and development squad matches dictate.

Evans, whose side visited Blackburn Rovers today, said: “The signing of Toumani (Diagouraga) and Liam Bridcutt limits your game time if you are a central midfield player at Leeds.

“But we resisted the temptation to put Lewie Coyle on loan as he didn’t think

it was right for his development and we thought training here every day with the players

helps you develop more sometimes.

“So we’d like to think rather than sending them (young players) down to the lower levels, it’s just right at this minute to keep them inside and when they are inside, they are learning and doing things right and progressing doing towards the first team.

“Kalvin Phillips will play some games before the end of the season if his performances on the training ground and in the Under-21s dictate that they should do.”

Evans also stated that

there are no plans to send another out-of-favour midfielder in Casper Sloth out on loan.

He challenged players on the periphery to follow the lead of Luke Murphy of taking first-team opportunity with they come along – the former Crewe Alexandra man making the most of his chance after being recalled for the midweek win at Cardiff.