Leeds United are 15th in the table and six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone after their 1-1 draw with Aston Villa last time out.
Daniel Farke is currently on course to avoid relegation in his first top-flight season with the club, following in Marcelo Bielsa's footsteps after the ex-Whites boss led the team to a top-half finish in the 2020/21 campaign.
In that season, Kalvin Phillips stepped up from the Championship to be a superstar in the middle of the park, taking the Premier League by storm and earning a place as a starter in the England squad for the European Championship in 2021.
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Since leaving the Whites to sign for Manchester City for £45m in the summer of 2022, it has been all downhill for the Leeds academy graduate, who was sent off in his third appearance for Sheffield United against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
The 30-year-old flop now has more red cards (three) than goals (two) since the start of the 2023/24 campaign in all competitions, having been sent off for West Ham, Ipswich, and the Blades in his three loan spells away from City.
Why Leeds sold Kalvin Phillips at the perfect time
It would be easy to say that Pep Guardiola or Manchester City ruined his career because of how he has fallen off since making the move to The Etihad, to the point where he is now playing in the Championship for the first time since the 2019/20 season.
That is not the case, though, because his regression in form started during his time at Elland Road after his excellent first season in the Premier League with Leeds.
Phillips (PL) 20/21 21/22
Appearances 29 20
Goals 1 0
Big chances created 5 1
Tackles + interceptions per game 4.2 3.9
Dribbled past per game 1.2x 1.7x
Ground duel success rate 53% 48%
Aerial duel success rate 47% 37%
In his second campaign in the top-flight with the West Yorkshire outfit, Phillips lost the majority of his duels on the ground and in the air, whilst being dribbled past 1.7 times per game. Only ten players in the league were dribbled past more frequently per match.
This shows that his form was already declining before Manchester City opted to spend £45m on his services in 2022, which means that Leeds hit the jackpot with the midfielder because they sold him at the perfect time before his performances dipped further.
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Whilst it is a shame to see how Phillips' career has played out so far, he was a brilliant player for Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign and earned his place in the England team by merit.
Now, there is a current Leeds star who is fast-becoming Farke's own version of Phillips from that season, and he is not even a central midfielder.
How Leeds have replaced some of Kalvin Phillips' best traits
The big story from the midfielder's first season in the Premier League with Leeds was that he ended up starting alongside Declan Rice in the 2021 Euros as England lost in the final to Italy at Wembley, 12 months after he was a Championship player.
kalvin-phillips-england-premier-league
England travel to Mexico, Canada, and the USA this summer for the 2026 World Cup and they have a star who may be in with an outside chance of following in Phillips' footsteps to make the squad.
James Justin may not be a central midfielder, like the Manchester City midfielder, but his performances for the Whites in recent weeks suggest that he may catch Thomas Tuchel's attention.
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Like Phillips in his prime at Leeds, Justin is an absolute warrior, boasting very similar qualities. Not only is he a supremely consistent player for Farke but he's a hard worker, reliable and a leader, notably skippering the side when Leeds beat Birmingham in the FA Cup. Those are all traits that the 'Yorkshire Pirlo' possessed during his time at Elland Road.
Versatile too, he's made a huge impact of late, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his last eight appearances in all competitions, showcasing an ability to play in several roles, including a tactically flexible one.
Thomas Tuchel has used his right-back in several different ways during his short time in charge of the Three Lions, including using a centre-back so that they can drop into a back three in possession.
That makes Justin an ideal tactical profile for the German because he has played a similar role for Farke, despite being a natural full-back, as he has played as a third centre-back at times, either moving to right-back or central midfield in possession.
25/26 Premier League James Justin
Appearances 18
Goals 1
Big chances created 4
Assists 1
Ground duel success rate 62%
Aerial duel success rate 58%
Dribbled past per game 0.4x
Error led to goal 0
The impressive right-back, who was hailed as "outstanding" by reporter James Marshment, has won the majority of his defensive duels on the deck and in the air, whilst rarely being dribbled past by opposition wingers, and he has provided a threat at the top end of the pitch.
Given that Trent Alexander-Arnold has only started six league games for Real Madrid, Reece James has only started 17 Premier League games for Chelsea, and Tino Livramento is currently injured, Justin may have a genuine chance at earning a call-up to the England squad.
james-justin-leeds
The Leeds star, who has been capped once by England, could earn himself a call-up to the squad for the last international break before the World Cup next month, which would give him an opportunity to prove to Tuchel that he would be a valuable player to take to the tournament.
As a star who can play at right-back, centre-back, left-back, and in central midfield, Justin could be a worthwhile option for the German boss to consider, which is why he may be the first Leeds player to earn an England call-up since Kalvin Phillips.
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