Gary Neville explains where Leeds star is better than Declan Rice and Liverpool mainstay

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Gary Neville has told Sky Sports (Monday, 11.05PM) that he believes Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips will start for England at Euro 2020 this summer, explaining where Phillips is better than West Ham’s Declan Rice, and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson.

Phillips, 24, has been excellent for Leeds over the past three seasons, since being converted into a holding midfielder under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine dropped him deeper after previously playing as a number 10, and it has worked.

The Leeds ace has become a regular in the England side and one of the Premier League’s best holding midfielders. During the last international break, he started all three games against San Marino, Albania and Poland – underlining his importance.

Discussing Euro 2021, Neville believes that Phillips will start for England when they take on Croatia on June 13 – stating that Phillips is better when in possession than £100million-rated (Athletic) Rice and Liverpool skipper Henderson.

“Kalvin Phillips is better at passing the ball through the lines at Leeds,” Neville said. “Henderson and Rice are good on the ball, but I think Phillips is the best out of the three on the ball in terms of accepting the ball and getting it off the back four.

“It has become a really important area for England to connect the back to the front. They’ve struggled over many, many years to be able to do that and get the ball through the midfield. Kalvin Phillips, under Bielsa, is used to getting on the ball all the time.

“Half-turn, pops it through the lines, into the likes of Mount, Rashford, Foden, Sterling – all those players who might play. So for me, I would go for Phillips alongside Rice [to start at Euro 2021].”

TBR’s view – Phillips is only getting better

Already a Leeds icon, Phillips is improving with every minute he plays in the Premier League. It is remarkable to think that it is still the midfielder’s first season in top-flight football and just over three years ago, he was being linked with a Leeds exit.

Is he better than Rice? Defensively, Rice is better. Is he better than Henderson? Well, the Liverpool captain has a winning mentality and certainly more experience. But as Neville says, when it comes to technical ability, Phillips is best.

It depends what Gareth Southgate wants in his midfield against certain opposition. Against Scotland, perhaps England will play with another attacking player – but facing Croatia, they maybe more defensive. Time will tell, but Phillips is in contention.