Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KAL TO ARMS
Tough-tackling Phillips in the right place at the right time for England... just as he was when Leeds signed him aged 14
KALVIN PHILLIPS’ England call-up before he has kicked a ball in the Premier League is not the first time he has been in the right place at the right time.
Phillips was signed by Leeds in 2010, aged 14, after they spotted him at a local youth tournament he had originally gone along to watch.
He had just got back from holiday and went straight to support his mates at Wortley Juniors when a couple of injuries gave him his unexpected chance.
Phillips made a crunching tackle – now familiar to all Leeds fans – right in front of Whites scout Sonny Sweeney, who played under Don Revie in the 1960s.
Phillips’ former Wortley coach Ian Thackray recalled: “His family came home from holiday on the day we started a tournament and Kalvin turned up to watch.
“We’d had a couple of injuries and the lads wanted him to play. One even gave him his kit, so I relented and put him on.
“A Leeds scout was wandering up the touchline at the time and Kalvin tackled this young kid right in front of him.
“The lad went flying up in the air, the ball rolled away and Kalvin sort of dragged it back while he was on the floor.
“He pushed it behind him and hit a ball with his right foot out to the opposite wing and we were on the attack.
“I got a phone call a week later asking for his details – and the rest, as they say, is history.
“In any walk of life, you have to be in the right place at the right time.
“If Kalvin hadn’t turned up after his holiday he might never have signed for Leeds.”
Phillips, 24, who grew up in Armley, near Elland Road, as one of triplets, comes from a family of Leeds fans and had Alan Smith’s name on his Whites shirt as a kid. He was a late developer and many clubs overlooked him, including Newcastle United, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Leeds initially, before that afternoon when he caught Sweeney’s eye.
His secondary school also doubted him and tried to warn his mum against letting him pursue a career as a footballer when she told them he needed time off because he was offered a scholarship by Leeds.
Phillips, who qualifies for Jamaica through his dad and was offered the chance to play for them, progressed through Leeds ranks and made his debut under Neil Redfearn against Wolves in April 2015.
Marcelo Bielsa has had the greatest impact on him and the
Leeds head coach had the vision to marry together his tenacious tackling and fine passing to convert him into a holding midfielder.
Gareth Southgate noted Phillips’ key role in
Leeds’ Championshipwinning campaign and now he can become only the eighth player in the last 40 years to represent England before playing in the top flight.
It’s another unexpected chance, which he intends to seize.
“I never thought, years before, that I’d be in this position,” said Phillips. “It’s a massive thing for me and a massive thing for my family.
“It’s a big step – and it’s one I’m going to try and take.”