Phillips given lifeline with three games to salvage his Germany bid

GOOD news has not been easy to come by for Kalvin Phillips in club football of late, and given he will have watched England’s friendlies this week from an unwanted distance, it would probably be a stretch to say the international break delivered a great deal, either. It may just, however, have offered up a lifeline. While few could argue with Gareth Southgate’s decision to drop the West Ham midfielder, England’s performances offered a reminder of why he values a peak Phillips. With Conor Gallagher alongside Declan Rice in midfield against Brazil, England were too open in transition. Kobbie Mainoo was exceptional against Belgium, but how Southgate would love to call on a player with several similar qualities — a snappy challenge, smart recycling of the ball — yet vastly more experienced when it comes to knockout football.

A recall in time for this summer’s Euros remains a long shot, but from a position of being out of the West Ham team, the stars have aligned to offer Phillips (left) what will surely prove a final chance. Outstanding Mexican holder Edson Alvarez will be suspended when West Ham play at Newcastle on Saturday, as well as when they host Tottenham on Tuesday night. Another ban in Europe rules him out of the first leg of next month’s quarter-final at Bayer Leverkusen, too. Those games will define the shape of West Ham’s run-in — and David Moyes may have to turn to Phillips in all three. The omens are not great, however. The Hammers’ record without Alvarez is dismal; three league games, one point, no wins.

Having arrived at West Ham in January, Phillips hoped the switch would be the first small step to resurrecting a stuttering career. With just two months of his loan spell left — and until the start of the Euros — only giant strides will do now.