Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has praised the ‘intelligent’ Kalvin Phillips after he adopted a new position during his time on international duty with England at Euro 2020. The 27-year-old was unlucky not to be featuring alongside his club teammate but he has explained that he has still kept in contact with Phillips throughout the rescheduled tournament.
Patrick Bamford said: “I think that when he went into the tournament he probably had a lot of doubters. People away from Leeds who probably think there’s no way he can be our holding midfielder or one of. He’s shown everyone that he’s more than capable. He’s probably been the most consistent performer in the team alongside Jordan Pickford. I think he probably deserves every accolade that he’s going to get coming towards him. Some games he’s gone unnoticed. I’ve noticed the scores, sometimes they’ve been giving him five out of ten. He’s actually played well but because he’s not done anything that’s stood out, he’s just done his good which is what he’s supposed to do. He’s not being noticed. But I think now people are starting to appreciate him more.”
Southgate has opted to utilise two holding midfielders in the form of Phillips and Declan Rice, both of whom have played impeccably enough to keep out Premier League and Champions League-winning Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and the highly-rated youngster Jude Bellingham. The England manager’s deployment of Phillips is one that came as a surprise to Bamford and celebrated the midfielders intelligence who admitted that the England midfielders high spirits.
Patrick Bamford added: “He played a little bit more attacking which was actually a little bit rare for us to see because normally he’s our holding midfielder. We weren’t used to seeing him play like that. It shows he’s an intelligent player because being able to go from playing just playing a holding midfielder role and never pushing forward and never really breaking lines to be able to switch it up and do it like that just shows that he takes in instructions well and is very intelligent. I spoke to him just before the Germany game. Chatting about the game, just chatting about other stuff, but he seems in good spirits. Obviously, he’s enjoying himself. I think the atmosphere in the camp is really good. I’m sure the other lads have been in touch with him as well.”
Phillips looks set to continue as an England midfielder and build on his impressive display against Germany on Saturday as they face Ukraine in the Euro 2020 quarter-final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Whilst Patrick Bamford returned to pre-season training with the Premier League season just over a month away with Leeds kicking their campaign off against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
