The last Leeds United players to play for England and Whites' international history as Kalvin Phillips eyes Three Lions debut

KALVIN PHILLIPS would become Leeds United's first England international since Alan Smith in 2004 if handed a Three Lions debut in next month's Nations League games against Iceland and Denmark.
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Smith and fellow former Whites star Danny Mills both represented England whilst still at Leeds back in 2004 - the year the club were relegated from the Premier League - and no Whites player has pulled on the Three Lions jersey in 16 years since.

In bagging what was his eighth cap of 19 for the Three Lions, Smith came on as a 61st-minute substitute in the 1-0 loss at Sweden in an international friendly of March 2004 with team mates Mills and Paul Robinson unused substitutes.

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Back in Yorkshire, a nine-year-old Phillips was playing for Wortley Juniors.

COUNTRY CALLS: For Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, above, who could become the club's first England international for over 16 years. Picture by Tim Goode/PA Wire.COUNTRY CALLS: For Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, above, who could become the club's first England international for over 16 years. Picture by Tim Goode/PA Wire.
COUNTRY CALLS: For Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, above, who could become the club's first England international for over 16 years. Picture by Tim Goode/PA Wire.

Ironically, as Phillips looks to become United's first England international in 16 years, present day Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate also featured in the Sweden friendly of March 2004, coming on at half-time.

Smith, Mills, and Southgate, also featured in England's 1-1 draw at Portugal in February 2004 making Mills United's second most recent England international while Robinson replaced David James at half-time of the 3-2 loss at home to Denmark in November 2003 meaning he is third most recent.

Robinson bagged four caps for England with Leeds with the Whites having a host of England internationals in the previous years with Lee Bowyer bagging his one cap for his country in 2002 during an era when Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate and Nigel Martyn also represented their country whilst also starring for the Whites.

Jason Wilcox secured an England cap for United in 2001.

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In total, United have seen 31 players represent England, amassing 317 caps between them whilst they were at Leeds.

Record Whites appearance holder and World Cup winner Jack Charlton leads the way with 35, followed by fellow World Cup winner Norman Hunter with 28, one more than Trevor Cherry with 27.

It puts the feats of the fallen Whites greats into perspective with former Leeds legends Charlton, Hunter and Cherry passing away earlier this year.

Phillips' call-up also acts as a perfect tribute to the trio and also Paul Madeley who passed away in 2008 and is next on the list of most England caps for Leeds with 24, four ahead of Terry Cooper with 20. Allan Clarke is next having bagged 19.

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Of the modern day era, Ferdinand made a whopping 81 appearances for England in total including 17 whilst still with the Whites with Mills actually bagging two more with 19 and Martyn topping the lot with 20.

David Batty also made 14 appearances for England with Leeds between 1991 and 1993 as part of 42 overall with Tony Currie another in double figures for Leeds in amassing ten in 1978 and 1979 as part of his 17 overall.

Tony Dorigo also clocked up nine with Leeds but United's first ever England international, Willis Edwards, is the only other former Leeds player with Three Lions caps in double figures whilst with the Whites.

As part of 16 caps for his country which all came with Leeds, Edwards made his England debut way back in 1926 with his last outing coming in 1929.

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Ninety one years on, Phillips looks set to become the club's latest proud Three Lions international to take the club's tally to 32.

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Thank you Laura Collins

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