Aston Villa correspondent Ashley Preece has claimed that the club are monitoring Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

The Lowdown: Phillips a doubt for Thursday

Phillips, who Gareth Southgate labelled 'excellent', has been missing for the Whites since December due to a hamstring problem.

The 26-year-old appears to be closing in on a return, though, with Villa set to travel to Elland Road on Thursday for their rearranged Premier League clash.

It seems as if Phillips may just miss out on featuring under Jesse Marsch that night, with Leeds only two points clear of the relegation zone with 11 games left to play.

Preece shared a story on Birmingham Live on Monday, looking at a number of Villa-related topics.

When it came to the search for a new defensive midfielder, the reporter claimed that Villa are now monitoring Phillips with a view to a possible swoop due to Leeds' precarious Premier League position.

The Verdict: Villa can pile the pressure on

It seems as if Villa may only stand a chance of signing Phillips if the Whites suffer relegation, so Steven Gerrard’s side can put the pressure on by taking three points from Yorkshire.

You’d expect that the 26-year-old could be available for a cut-price fee if Leeds drop down to the Championship, and it looks as if he’ll have to watch on from afar once again on Thursday.

He may already be aware of Villa’s continued interest, and with Gerrard seeking a new defensive midfielder, the England Player of the Year for 2021 could be the perfect fit for the 41-year-old.

In other news: Villa now set to share details of 'devastating' injury to 'brilliant' player; Gregg Evans gutted