David Prutton assesses prospects of Leeds United trio all representing England at Euro 2021

Whites midfielder Phillips was thought to be heading for a call-up into Gareth Southgate's Three Lions fold for the March friendlies against Denmark and Italy.

Both games, however, were cancelled as part of the global battle against coronavirus which then led to UEFA postponing this summer's 2020 European Championships which will instead be held next year.

The move will allow 24-year-old Phillips another year to integrate into the England fold and Prutton sees no reason why United's fellow young English stars White and Harrison could not also step out at Euro 2021.

Both have thrived this season for Marcelo Bielsa's Championship-topping side with 22-year-old White on a season-long loan from Brighton and 23-year-old Harrison back for a second season-long loan from Manchester City.

Assessing if he thought there was a chance that not just Phillips but also White and Harrison could play for England next summer, former Whites midfielder and Sky Sports presenter Prutton said: "Why the hell not?

"If Phillips gets Leeds into the Premier League and the season finishes at the back end of whenever then why not?

"If you are looking at holding midfielders, I think the general consensus would be that to be that starting midfielder for England in a European Championships then you should be playing in a Premier League side.

"But such is Kalv ability on the ball and such is his composure on the ball and the type of player that he is that playing with better players will bring more out of him so I don't think it's the most ridiculous shout.

"From Ben White's point of view, he is obviously a younger player with different levels of football under his belt so again it's a possibility.

"We discussed Jack Harrison often last season with the irony perhaps being that he petered out towards the end of the season when Leeds really needed him.

"But in the last few games he has been fantastic and he has been fantastic for the majority of the season really.

"I still don't think Jack would be as close to the England squad as Kalvin or in as much of a conversation about it and he would probably be more slightly under the Ben White category.

"But it's definitely food for thought and who knows what the new normal might bring?

"It's intrigue and we say intrigue like it is something to smile about.

"But if we get bogged down in every single horror story from every single media outlet that we look at then that kernel of positivity that might see us through gets trampled on."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777