A lot of Leeds United fans were delighted to see Gareth Southgate at Elland Road for the Whites’ 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
LUFCDATA believes that Southgate was there to watch Ben White and Kalvin Phillips ahead of England’s next match in March.
Which Leeds player has the better chance of an England call-up?
Phillips
White
Unfortunately, for both Phillips and White, they struggled throughout and ended up on the losing side; however, many Whites supporters were still pleased to see the England manager visiting Elland Road.
Of all the games being played across the country, England manager Gareth Southgate is in attendance at Elland Road today. Another sign of just how far we've come as a club. Presumably here to watch our very own Yorkshire Pirlo and Ben White. #LUFC
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) January 11, 2020
Both deserve a call up have done all season. Phillips been banging on door for coupe of season.
— Lee Maspero (@Leemo_LUFC) January 11, 2020
No bias but Phillips is a class above Rice, Dier or Winks.
Put another way, if Leeds were to sell Phillips and we got one of those in return, I’d be very disappointed!
Lets go Kalvin @Kalvinphillips ??
— Kagey (@K8G5B) January 11, 2020
100% them two and it’s thoroughly deserved too!
— ACalmLeedsFan (@RyanLUFC91) January 11, 2020
@conway_lewis @olic19 @TheMikesAntics @LouisYoung13 pic.twitter.com/fSEWo4Lo1w
— Josh Bell (@JoshBell_) January 11, 2020
?
— Scott Jackson (@scottjack79) January 11, 2020
Other Leeds fans think that Southgate was only there because he lives in Harrogate.
He lives in Harrogate pal
— (((Mark Hoff Hansard))) ?? (@drasnah) January 11, 2020
And he lives in Harrogate
— James Nemeth (@James1Nemeth) January 11, 2020
What do we think?
Both White and Phillips have impressed this season, and various Premier League clubs have watched both.
You would think that no matter what happens to Leeds, both White and Phillips will be playing in the top-flight next season.
White has looked a class above for most of the season, and he has had teams like Manchester United and Liverpool taking great interest in him.
Phillips nearly joined Aston Villa in the summer, but in the end, he signed a new deal and stayed with the Whites.
This season the 24-year-old has got even better and looks like he belongs in the Premier League. If Leeds do not get promoted, then would Phillips stick around for another season?
However, it is good to see that Southgate is noticing Leeds, and if White and Phillips can continue to play well for the Whites, they might just receive some international recognition soon.