A boyhood Liverpool fan who came through the academy, his dreams came true in January.
He scored in the Tykes’ FA Cup game at Anfield in January, with the goal instructive to how he likes to play.
If we look at the footage of the goal, Phillips makes a pass from deep to team-mate Corey O’Keeffe on the right, but then is immediately on the run to receive the return.
That dynamism means he never lets up on Liverpool’s star man, Dominik Szoboszlai, who appears to have things under control.
But a sign of Phiilips’ smartness is that he gives the Hungarian a little nudge in the back, which perhaps throws the Liverpool man’s concentration off.
Even so, many players would have given up at that point, as Szoboszlai and his fellow international, Georgian keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, look to have dealt with the situation.
But the relentless Phillips never lets up, and when the Liverpool midfielder tries to get too cute with a backheel to his team-mate, the Barnsley man is in the right place at the right time to sweep the ball into the net from a few yards out.
What does that tell us maybe about the man City have just signed on a three-year deal?
For one thing, it’s unlikely we’d have seen the recently-departed Max Power or Jenson Metcalfe produce a passage of play like that.
Not a criticism of the now-Wigan and Millwall men at all, but more a sign that Phillips will surely be played in an attacking midfield role, potentially usurping one of Antoni Sarcevic or Bobby Pointon next season.
Adam Phillips beats Georgi Mamardashvili to score against his boyhood club Liverpool in January. (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Sarcevic is an incredible footballer, but Phillips may be more effective on the press, which is something we saw bring a few goals for City last term, Will Swan being the beneficiary on more than one occasion.
With Power and Metcalfe gone, and Lee Evans not offered a new deal, City are likely to still need at least two players for that pivot, as Phillips’ goal and assist numbers suggest he’d be wasted in there.
Doncaster captain Owen Bailey, a rumoured target for a number of clubs, including the Bantams, could well be one answer.