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England Star Kalvin Phillips' Holding Midfield Role At Leeds United Is 'A Bit Of A Waste'

England Star Kalvin Phillips' Holding Midfield Role At Leeds United Is 'A Bit Of A Waste'

Danny Murphy says the "two most important players for England" at Euro 2020 were Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips and West Ham's Declan Rice.

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Kalvin Phillips' defensive midfield role at Leeds United has been labelled a "bit of a waste" after his superb performances for England at Euro 2020.

That is according to BBC pundit Danny Murphy, who doesn't believe that Phillips' ability is fully utilised due to his holding role for the Premier League club.

Phillips impressed at this summer's Euros and started every match under Gareth Southgate en route to England's defeat to Italy in the final.

The 25-year-old Leeds star forged a magnificent partnership with West Ham star Declan Rice in midfield and was provided with the opportunity to play a part in England's attack.

Phillips' more advanced midfield position benefited England as he set up Raheem Sterling for the Three Lions' winner against Croatia at Wembley.

The England international has been used for his defensive ability under Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, who previously claimed it was easy for Phillips to "play as DM or defend as centre-back."

PA

Now, Murphy insisted that the "two most important players for England" at Euro 2020 were Rice and Phillips.

However, the 44-year-old former Fulham midfielder was critical of how Phillips has been used in midfield at Leeds.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Murphy said: "Temperament, fitness and quality and I actually think, although Leeds play him in that holding role.

PA
PA

"But I actually like him a bit further ahead with the insurance of someone behind him.

"He is technically good enough to go on and make goals and score goals, I think, as he progresses in his career. I think he could be a bit of a waste just having him in a holding role.

"Harry Kane has now come and scored the goals, in terms of getting us where we are, he carried that biggest threat.

"But I've said all along, the two most important players for England in this tournament have been Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips.

"You talk about those two, and people talking about not playing two holding midfielders, 'Do we need that?'

"But they've protected the back four, we've only conceded one goal, and as much as you look at the defence, the work they have done in protecting them and giving England the balance of having four attacking players: Mason Mount, Harry Kane, Sterling and [Phil] Foden, [Jack] Grealish or [Bukayo] Saka.

"Those two give them that base and that balance that I don't think we've ever had."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Kalvin Phillips, Danny Murphy, Football, Euro 2020, UEFA, Premier League, England, Leeds United