Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips secures fifth England cap as Gareth Southgate names side to face 'worst in the world' San Marino

LEEDS United midfielder Kalvin Phillips earns his fifth England cap by making his fourth start for the Three Lions in tonight's World Cup qualifier against minnows San Marino at Wembley.
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Phillips was forced to miss England s three matches in November after suffering a shoulder injury in October's 1-0 loss at home to Wolves for Marcelo Bielsa's Whites.

The midfielder was left sidelined for just over a month having previously made his Three Lions debut just the previous month when starting September's Nations League clash in Denmark.

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Phillips then played the full duration of the following month's friendly at home to Wales before coming off the bench for the Nations League game at home to Belgium.

The 25-year-old also played the full 90 minutes of the same month's Nations League fixture at home to Denmark which ended in a 1-0 defeat before the shoulder injury that he picked up against Wolves disrupted his progress.

After returning to the Whites fold at the end of November, Phillips then picked up a calf injury in February's 2-0 win at home to Crystal Palace but the Yorkshire Pirlo returned to the Whites team for the clash at Crystal Palace earlier this month.

The Whites Academy graduate has since played the full duration of United's last three games and now comes straight back into Gareth Southgate's side for the first of three World Cup qualifiers in the space of seven days.

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England are also set to take on Albania in Tirana on Sunday before ending the March games with next Wednesday's qualifier at home to Poland although the Albania clash is in doubt over a security issue.

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images.Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images.
Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images.

Tonight's visitors San Marino are ranked as the worst nation in the world in the FIFA Rankings in which they sit 210th, behind Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

Leeds are back in Premier League action a week on Saturday with the Yorkshire derby at home to bottom club Sheffield United.

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Thank you Laura Collins

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