Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips opens up over England 'rivalry' with West Ham midfielder Declan Rice

Kalvin Phillips views England team-mate Declan Rice not as a rival but as a friend with whom he can form healthy competition.

The Leeds United defensive midfielder was handed his first cap for England in September by head coach Gareth Southgate.

Phillips' call-up provided an alternative option as the linchpin in front of the defence for the Three Lions.

Debate has raged over how Southgate should set-up his England side in recent months, with many believing there is only room for one midfield enforcer.

West Ham academy product Rice has 11 caps to his name so far, and will take on his countryman at Elland Road in the Premier League for the first time under the lights on Friday night.

Phillips, though, was quizzed about the 'rivalry' with Rice at international level in the build-up to the LS11 meeting, revealing that isn't how he views the relationship between the midfield pair.

"I don't really look at it like that," Phillps told BBC Radio Leeds.

"There is a lot of talk about me and Dec but it is just about fighting for a position for your country. I think it is healthy for both of us.

"Dec is obviously a very good player. He's younger than me as well and he has a lot of experience in the Premier League, which I don't.

"For him to be playing for England so young is unbelievable for him. Obviously I want to play for England as well, so it's going to be a battle between us but whatever happens, happens.

"We're playing for the same country and we're friends as well. We speak to each other quite a bit.

"It'll be good to play against him and have a look at what it is like to face him but it'll be good to see him as well."

Asked about the top flight showdown with the Hammers, Phillips said: "We'll have more possession, which I think in nearly every other game we have done anyway.

"It's just more the fact of trying to break a team like West Ham down and stopping them going the other way.

"I think that is massive for us. As you can see they scored a few goals against Wolves, which we struggled to do.

"Wolves are a great defensive side so we know that they've got ability to score goals. If we can nullify that then the game will be there for us to take."