Marcelo Bielsa on Gareth Southgate and potential England call for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips

Bielsa, though, said he would not be telling Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate who to pick after being unimpressed with other manager's suggestions to himself as a national side boss of Argentina and Chile.

Reports in the national press on Tuesday morning suggest that Whites midfielder Phillips is set to be included in Southgate's Three Lions squad for their friendlies against Italy and Denmark next month.

As part of their preparations for this summer's European Championships, England will take on Italy at Wembley on Friday, March 27 before also taking on Denmark at Wembley on Tuesday, March 31.

Southgate was recently present at Elland Road for United's 2-0 loss at home to Sheffield Wednesday and reports suggest that Phillips has continued to be closely monitored and is now set for his first international call.

Bielsa, who spent six years in charge of Argentina and four years at the helm with Chile, said he was wary of interfering with suggestions of who should play for England with the 64-year-old having been unimpressed with other managers telling him who should be representing Argentina and Chile.

Yet United's head coach left no doubt as to the source of pride that should be felt by everybody connected with Phillips and Leeds United Football Club should the Championship midfielder indeed be handed his Three Lions call.

"Is this information official?" asked Bielsa.

"If not, you'll get me in trouble with the national team manager!

"I worked as a national team manager in Argentina and Chile, and I didn't like other managers saying in the press which players the national team has to play, so I don't want to make this mistake."

Asked, though, about the level of achievement involved, Bielsa admitted: "If that happens, it's not something that's easy to get, and for this reason everybody has to be proud.

"It's something that Leeds, the club, himself, his teammates, need to be proud of."