Phil Hay has been speaking on the latest edition of The Athletic’s The Phil Hay Show about all things relating to Leeds United.
One of the topics that Hay spent some time on was injury news, and he revealed that Kalvin Phillips could be in contention for the match on Sunday against Arsenal.
The 24-year-old has been injured since Leeds’ defeat to Wolves on 19th October, when the club said he would be out for up to six weeks, although Marcelo Bielsa thought that he might be out for less time, so Hay discussed the midfielder and issued a claim on his fitness.
He said: “This was the first game that they were hoping that Phillips might be fit for after the ligament injury in his shoulder.
“Obviously, the club said initially it was likely to be six weeks, or up to six weeks; Bielsa was a bit more unequivocal and was clearly thinking that it might not take so long if things went well with Phillips.
“I think it’s absolutely certain that Phillips will be banging on the door this week, trying to play.”
Do you think Phillips should play against Arsenal?
Yes, we need him
No, don't risk him
TIF Thoughts on Phillips and Hay’s view on his possible return…
Since Phillips has been injured, he has missed three Premier League games. In the first one, the Whites arguably didn’t miss him as they ran out 3-0 winners at Aston Villa.
However, since then, the following two games have both ended in 4-1 defeats to Leicester City and Crystal Palace.
In Phillips’ last three Premier League games, the most goals that the Whites have conceded in a game is one.
As well as this, the 24-year-old’s average rating of 6.94/10 ranks him in fourth place in Leeds’ squad (as per WhoScored), so we think that if he is fit, then Bielsa should risk him and play him against Arsenal on Sunday.
His absence in the last two games has seen Leeds collapse and concede eight goals, so we feel that Leeds will stand a greater chance of winning if he is back in the team.