Jamie Redknapp salutes traits of Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips and Marcelo Bielsa's influence towards England call

JAMIE Redknapp admits he is a big fan of Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the England set-up with Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa demanding "excellency" from his players.
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Phillips has quickly amassed four caps in a little over a month with the 24-year-old making his Three Lions debut when starting and playing 76 minutes of last month's Nations League clash in Denmark that ended in a goalless draw.

The United Academy graduate then played the full match of England's 3-0 victory in a friendly at home to Wales before dropping to the bench for the 2-1 Nations League victory against visiting Belgium in which the Whites midfielder replaced Jordan Henderson six minutes after the hour.

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But Phillips then came back into the side for Wednesday night's Nations League clash at home to Denmark with the Yorkshireman lining up alongside West Ham United's Declan Rice in centre midfield as Liverpool captain Henderson dropped back to the bench.

UNFLUSTERED: Leeds United's England international midfielder Kalvin Phillips leaves Denmark's Thomas Delaney trailing in Wednesday night's Nations League clash at Wembley. Photo by Daniel Leal Olivas - Pool/Getty Images.UNFLUSTERED: Leeds United's England international midfielder Kalvin Phillips leaves Denmark's Thomas Delaney trailing in Wednesday night's Nations League clash at Wembley. Photo by Daniel Leal Olivas - Pool/Getty Images.
UNFLUSTERED: Leeds United's England international midfielder Kalvin Phillips leaves Denmark's Thomas Delaney trailing in Wednesday night's Nations League clash at Wembley. Photo by Daniel Leal Olivas - Pool/Getty Images.

Even when England were reduced to ten men following Harry Maguire's dismissal in the 31st minute, Phillips stayed on the field with boss Gareth Southgate instead sacrificing Arsenal's Ainsley Maitland-Niles and the Leeds midfielder also survived another three Southgate substitutions.

Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and then fellow centre-midfielder Rice were withdrawn as Southgate looked to find a solution with ten men England trailing by a single goal but the Danes stood form to record a 1-0 victory.

It means Phillips has quickly clocked up 280 minutes of football for the Three Lions and former England international Redknapp is impressed with what the Leeds midfielder offers as a player with Redknapp highlighting the influence of Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa as particularly key.

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“I really like this boy," said Redknapp as part of Sky Sports' coverage of the Denmark clash at Wembley.

FAN OF PHILLIPS: Former England international and now Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp. Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images.FAN OF PHILLIPS: Former England international and now Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp. Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images.
FAN OF PHILLIPS: Former England international and now Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp. Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images.

"I like the way he plays, he’s super smooth on the ball, he’s not fazed.

“I always look at midfield players and when they look like they’ve got time on the ball, for me, they’re doing the right thing because sometimes everyone looks a little bit flustered.

"But the game, he makes it look easy.

"You can see that he's full of confidence, he’s got a manager in Bielsa that demands excellency and demands that he works hard and makes tackles.

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"He always looks like he's got time and that's what you need for any good midfield player."

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Thank you Laura Collins

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