Kalvin Phillips thinking of others with behaviour for both Leeds United and England

KALVIN Phillips says he is thinking about his club, country and family in a determination to behave in a professional manner not just for England but Leeds United too.
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Whites Academy graduate Phillips has experienced a whirlwind last couple of months with the 24-year-old securing his first call-up to Gareth Southgate's England squad for the September clashes against Iceland and Denmark.

Nearly two months after getting the nod from Southgate, the United midfielder already has four caps with Phillips most recently playing the full 90 minutes of the 1-0 loss against Denmark at Wembley in the Nations League.

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As a team, the fixture proved one to forget for England with Harry Maguire sent off for two-first half bookings and the evening ended with Three Lions full debutante Reece James also shown a red-card for dissent after the full-time whistle.

RAPID RISE: Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, centre, was sat on his sofa watching the 2018 World Cup at which England team-mate Marcus Rashford, left, was sat on Gareth Southgate's bench. Photo by Neil Hall - Pool/Getty Images.RAPID RISE: Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, centre, was sat on his sofa watching the 2018 World Cup at which England team-mate Marcus Rashford, left, was sat on Gareth Southgate's bench. Photo by Neil Hall - Pool/Getty Images.
RAPID RISE: Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, centre, was sat on his sofa watching the 2018 World Cup at which England team-mate Marcus Rashford, left, was sat on Gareth Southgate's bench. Photo by Neil Hall - Pool/Getty Images.

It meant boss Southgate found himself facing fresh questions about his squad's discipline on the back of Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho breaking coronavirus social distancing rules with Abraham's surprise birthday party just one month after Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood also broke coronavirus rules whist with the Three Lions squad in Iceland.

Phillips knows all too well about the such episodes that have been "flying around the media" but the Leeds midfielder says he owes it to himself, his family, his club and his country to ensure he behaves in a professional manner throughout.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Phillips reasoned: "Obviously you have got the representation of England now on your shoulders so if I ever make a mistake which I hope I don't then I've got to represent the country in a certain way that I've got to be a professional about what I do.

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"I just feel like that anyway, even with Leeds, because Leeds is my club and I don't want to disappoint anybody, especially my family.

"I don't think I would be able to live with my self if I did something out of nature other to what I am and the same with England.

"There's been a lot of stuff that has been flying around in the media which is easy to happen and stuff happens like that.

"But luckily I am on the good side and trying not to do anything wrong."

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Assessing the whole experience of his first two camps with England and already gaining four caps for the Three Lions, Phillips smiled: "It was weird.

"Some of the lads were talking about the World Cup and stuff like that and I was sat at home in my living room watching that.

"Marcus was on about when he was sat on the bench and stuff like that and I was like well I was sat on my sofa.

"It's just weird, obviously seeing all the big shots and that like Harry Kane and stuff like that.

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"But they are all just normal people, they all treat you as though you are one of their own and treat you like just a normal person which is good and makes it easier for me to come in and do my job."

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Thank you Laura Collins

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