Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been earmarked by Gareth Southgate for a call-up to the senior England squad according to TeamTalk, and fans have flocked onto Twitter to react.
Phillips is one of a number of Leeds players who have seen their game transformed under new manager Marcelo Bielsa and it looks like this might have an instant pay-off, with a call-up for his country and a number of Premier League sides interested in signing him too.
However, while Leeds fans are buzzing about the news, many think it’s unlikely to happen, with one going as far as saying “This is nonsense”.
OPINION
Phillips has been good this season, really good at times, but England level? Gareth Southgate will definitely have his eye on a number of young English players and Phillips could well be one of them, but we’re finding it hard to believe that he’s going to get a call-up anytime soon. There are plenty of players above him in the pecking order. One fan said that the transformation he’s gone through this season shows that he’s ready to learn football at a higher level, and we’d agree with that, but we still think his best chance of progression happens under Bielsa and hopefully in the Premier League next season. If he starts showing consistency in the English top-flight then a dream call-up to the England squad could well happen. You have to remember that he’s only 22-years-old and has all of his best years in front of him.
Here are the best reactions from Leeds fans:
Being reported Phillips might get an England call up. Wow. Hope it happens for the lad #lufc
— ???? (@deancore) October 1, 2018
Wow….! Is he really that level?
— EastStandUpper (@EastStandUpper) October 1, 2018
The transformation he's undergone in close season is sufficient to indicate he's got the capacity to learn and the style of football he's now shining in is tailor made for a higher level of football
— Funky Rabbit (@funkyrabbit) October 1, 2018
That said I'm not sure he ready just yet. When he's been pivotal in our return to the Premiership, then he'll be ready ?
— Funky Rabbit (@funkyrabbit) October 1, 2018
I’m not he’s ready for the Prem never mind England, this is nonsense
— Tiddy (@PureLeeds) October 1, 2018
He’s one of several that Southgate is apparently sending people to watch. Roofe was another mentioned.
— ???? (@deancore) October 1, 2018
@cjfoster99 imagine the scenes
— Sam Newsome (@SamNewsome99) October 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/cjfoster99/status/1046712739220127744
Hahahha good joke. Wouldn’t even get in u21s
— ALAW (@ALAW116) October 1, 2018
Phillips for England ????
— Aaron Taylor (@AzzaLufc) October 1, 2018
Senior team? Hope so but surely not…
— LUFC (@jpvin25) October 1, 2018