Phillips ‘one of the best’ outside the EPL’s top six
Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips has been named as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever players not to have played for a ‘top six’ club.
Match of the Day pundits Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright have been voting on a series of categories to determine some of the best players of the Premier League era.
On this week’s edition of the podcast, they discussed the best players to have representedteamsoutsidethetraditional ‘big six’.
Phillips featured having won the European Golden Boot during his first season in thetopflightfortheBlackCats.
He would go on to score 61 goals in the top tier during his time on Wearside, while also winning eight England caps.
He also scored 22 Premier LeaguegoalsforSouthampton, where he initially was an apprenticebeforebeingreleased.
Hemovedbacktothesouth coast after Sunderland’s relegation in 2003.
Shearer, who placed Phillips seventh in his list, said he was a ‘great example’ of a player fighting their way to the top from an early setback.
“He was an apprentice when I was at Southampton and they didn't think he was good enough,” he said.
“Hehadtogoelsewhereand play non-league football.
“To show the attitude he did...he came back, played for England and won a Golden Boot, so in terms of working for it and scrapping for it, he is a great example."
LeicesterCity’sJamieVardy came first in the poll, followed byGarySpeedandMattLeTissier.
Wright, who voted him 4th in his list, added: “He was clinical in the box and scored goalsfromeverywhere.Hewas a fantastic finisher."