Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips passed Arsenal Premier League test, now it's Sheffield Wednesday wizard Barry Bannan

But the Leeds United midfield enforcer goes into the Elland Road clash with Sheffield Wednesday fresh from a Premier League test, one that he passed with flying colours according to his head coach.

Against Arsenal, Phillips was a defensive colossus, winning nine tackles, more than any other player on the pitch.

But he passed the ball well too, with an 84 per cent accuracy and conjured up four key passes [the pass directly preceding a chance].

To put his contribution to Leeds’ attacking display at the Emirates into context, this season in the Championship he has averaged two key passes per game.

If further context is needed, the FA Cup tie pitted the 24-year-old against 92-times capped German international Mesut Özil and, latterly, England Under 21 midfielder Joe Willock.

Phillips put in the kind of display that has made him a reliable source of something Bielsa values above most other things – consistency.

“[He has been] excellent,” said the Argentine.

“Consistent, always plays, always plays well, he makes a lot of sacrifice for the team, he is a good personality, he takes risks, the responsibility doesn’t inhibit him and in the last match he played against Ozil and Willock and I think he did very well in this exam.”

Phillips was, unsurprisingly, showered with plaudits after the game and having looked every inch a Premier League player in waiting all season in the Championship, looked completely at home in a Premier League ground against Premier League opposition.

But it’s back to bread and butter for Leeds and their home-grown star this weekend.

Before Phillips can call himself a Premier League player, he’s got 20 more Championship tests to pass.

Bannan presents a test that Phillips has sat before.

The duo had a tit-for-tat battle at Hillsborough earlier in the season, in a closely-fought 0-0 stalemate.

Neither player came off the pitch able to say they had dominated the other and their individual battle will be key to Saturday’s fixture between the league leaders and their eighth-placed visitors.

Their numbers for the season hold clues as to their differing strenghts and the areas in which they chiefly operate.

Phillips is a more defensive player; he makes three tackles per game, compared with Bannan’s 1.4, he makes more interceptions, more blocks and is considerably more successful in the air.

The seven assists and 2.6 key passes per game boasted by Bannan suggest he’s a more creative midfielder.

He takes more shots and attempts more dribbles.

But it cannot be said that Bannan contributes a great deal more on the ball than the man who will attempt to shut him down on Saturday.

Phillips makes around six passes more than Bannan per game, with a higher accuracy, plays more long balls and they each cross it twice per game.

What can be said is that they are both integral to their side’s style of play.

Bannan, six years Phillips’ senior, dictates from deep in the same way the Leeds United man does.

He is the wizard to whom Sheffield Wednesday turn when they need some magic in the opposition half, whereas the Whites have Pablo Hernandez – when fit – for that.

Phillips is the man Leeds look to when they need to nullify a wizard’s magic and the Championship is littered with clever, highly skilled players who have found the going very tough against him this season.

Few have got the better of Phillips, most have struggled to get past him and all have felt his presence.

Both of these two players are beloved by their respective managers.

Bielsa waxed lyrical about Phillips’ professionalism in a summer of speculation over his future, calling him ‘an example to us all.’

Garry Monk cites his Scottish midfielder as the perfect example for the rest of the Owls squad, not just the youngsters but the veterans too.

“Barry’s a fantastic player, I knew that before I came,” Monk said of the former Aston Villa, Leeds United and Crystal Palace player.

“He’s a brilliant professional and he’s got a bit of everything about him. He’s tenacious, he’s driven and he’s good with the other players.

“He has to be one of the best midfielders in this league ability-wise, vision-wise and performance-wise.

“He’s playing very, very well, he’s helping this team and he wants to win. They’re the type of players you want.

“He has the ability to play in the Premier League and he’s proved that in the past.

“He has to keep doing what he’s doing because he gives a lot to the team. That’s an example to all the younger lads who look up to him and the senior lads who look to him with respect.

“He’s fantastic lad and vitally important to us so we need him to continue the form he’s in.

And Leeds need Phillips to stop him on Saturday.

Whether or not Bannan is his Championship acid test, he presents another chance for Phillips to show he can make the grade against the very best.