Nat’s a real monster prospect for Klopp
NAT PHILLIPS – dubbed a “monster in the air” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp – is completely grounded when it comes to making big career decisions.
And there have been quite a few for the son of Bolton Wanderers legend Jimmy Phillips.
“Nat has always had a great determination to succeed,” said Phillips senior (right), who made over 300 appearances for the Trotters and spent 15 years as a coach there.
It’s an inner strength which saw him reject a football scholarship in America, move to Germany on loan, recalled for a Merseyside derby and bounce back from an aborted move on transfer deadline day in October.
Two weeks later he was thrown in by Klopp for his Premier League debut against West Ham and responded with a man-of-thematch performance which drew that high praise from his manager.
Jimmy said: “They were prepared to sell him to a Championship club but the deal broke down.
“But the next day Virgil van Dijk got injured and there were other injuries and a couple of weeks later he’s playing against West Ham.”
Twists of fate appear to have engulfed the life of the central defender, 23 (below).
Glandular fever and injuries slowed his progress in the Bolton academy where he had joined aged nine and he had three A levels by the time Wanderers’ finances dictated he had to be released.
Jimmy added: “He got an offer from Charlotte University in North Carolina. He went over to Charlotte and was incredibly impressed with the facilities.
“But three days before he was due to fly out to the States, Liverpool invited him on a pre-season trip to Germany.
“I knew what Nat always wanted and the only thing I asked Liverpool was not to just offer him a short-term contract because he did have this fantastic offer from America on the table.
“To be fair they offered him a two-year contract which gave Nat the chance to develop which I felt he still needed.”
The raw Phillips was soon reunited with Germany – en route to a loan spell with VfB Stuttgart who he helped win promotion to the Bundesliga in July.
There had been a brief return to Merseyside in January where in true style he was flung into the FA Cup third round derby against Everton – a young Liverpool side embarrassing their neighbours in a 1-0 victory – and now he is an important part of Klopp’s Premier League squad.