Leeds United

Leeds United: Conor McGilligan tips Lewis O’Brien as potential Kalvin Phillips understudy

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Image for Leeds United: Conor McGilligan tips Lewis O’Brien as potential Kalvin Phillips understudy

Journalist Conor McGilligan has given his thoughts on Leeds United and summer target Lewis O’Brien following news surrounding Kalvin Phillips.

Leeds were hit with significant injury news yesterday as it was revealed that Phillips is set to be out of action for the next two months following an injury to his hamstring – a problem made even worse by the fact that defensive midfield is a position that Leeds don’t have a lot of bodies in.

With the January transfer window approaching, it’s possible that the Whites could bring in someone to help plug the gap, and one option could be for them to try and sign Huddersfield Town midfielder O’Brien, who Leeds were reportedly close to signing in the summer transfer window.

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Speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel YouTube page when asked about it by supporters, McGilligan threw his support behind the idea of Leeds signing him to replace Phillips, even though he would be making the step up from Championship to the Premier League.

He said: “Listen, I’d love Lewis O’Brien there, he makes perfect sense in terms of learning off Kalvin Phillips, being, okay, coming off the bench in the long term, but growing, maybe being a sustainable option to Kalvin Phillips. A lot of people going, ‘Oh, it’s Huddersfield’. He’s a very, very good player.

“I cover Huddersfield Town, he’s a very, very good player, Lewis O’Brien. He’s somebody who will – he might not for Leeds, I hope he does at some point – but he will apply his trade, for me, at Premier League level.

“Whether or not that’s Crystal Palace, whether or not that’s another club, I don’t know. But don’t turn your nose up at him just because he’s a Championship player.”

TIF Thoughts on Conor McGilligan’s comments about Lewis O’Brien and Leeds United…

Would you be happy to see Lewis O'Brien join Leeds?

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McGilligan is right to think that Leeds shouldn’t be quick to write someone off just because of the division that they play in – after all, Patrick Bamford was able to make that jump for Marcelo Bielsa’s men, scoring more goals in the top flight as he did in the previous season and proved it’s not impossible to make that jump. However, there is one other factor that needs to be considered, and that is how the team set up.

Bielsa’s training methods and style of play are challenging ones and not something that can be adjusted to easily, so it’s not just a case of grabbing any player and slotting him into Phillips’ role – one that he plays so well – and assuming that he’ll be able to fulfil the role.

So bringing in someone like the £2.7m-rated O’Brien is something that Leeds should consider, but it’s one that they have to be 100% certain about before they decide to follow through on it, otherwise it could be money wasted in a position that they have to get spot-on should they decide to sign someone.

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Freelance sports journalist & broadcaster.