---
title: "Leeds: Alex McLeish makes Kalvin Phillips claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-alex-mcleish-makes-kalvin-phillips-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-03-09T16:15:34Z"
modified: "2022-03-09T16:15:34Z"
---

# Leeds: Alex McLeish makes Kalvin Phillips claim

**Former top flight manager Alex McLeish has made a claim regarding Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/leeds-united-news-this-may-be-hidden-meaning-behind-massive-kalvin-phillips-claim-pundit/) report.**

### The Lowdown: Marsch’s first comments

New Whites manager Jesse Marsch [admitted](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/every-word-confident-jesse-marsch-23280848) before his first game in charge of the club that he wanted Phillips to take on a ‘bigger role’ at Thorp Arch, describing it as ‘massively important’.

The 26-year-old, who Aston Villa are [monitoring](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/ashley-preece-kalvin-phillips-villa-transfer-latest/) ahead of a possible summer swoop, has been out injured since [December](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kalvin-phillips/leistungsdaten/spieler/351749) but is making good progress after undergoing hamstring surgery.

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Phillips has missed the last [12](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kalvin-phillips/leistungsdaten/spieler/351749) Premier League games, with Leeds losing [nine](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kalvin-phillips/leistungsdaten/spieler/351749) of those, leaving them just [two](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) points clear of the relegation zone.

### The Latest: McLeish’s comments

McLeish, who contributes for [BBC Radio 5 Live](https://icdb.tv/stats/1454/Alex-McLeish), was asked by [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/leeds-united-news-this-may-be-hidden-meaning-behind-massive-kalvin-phillips-claim-pundit/) what a ‘bigger role’ could mean.

> “Phillips was playing at an exceptionally high standard before his injury. What else they can get out of him I don’t know.
>
> “Is he a talker? Is he a leader behind the scenes? Maybe he wants him to add some little things.
>
> “One thing I can tell you is that he is not talking about footballing reasons. It will be a mentality thing.
>
> “Perhaps he wants him to be more vociferous with the players. Some players are quiet these days.
>
> “I’m not sure exactly what Jesse means. One thing is for sure, it is clear Phillips has been badly missed. It was a world of pain for Bielsa when he was missing those players.”

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### The Verdict: Return needed

Leeds need their best players available for the final months of the season and look set to have Phillips available very soon after the club’s teasing [official post](https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1501484015760646145) of the midfielder in action at Thorp Arch on Wednesday.

Patrick Bamford is another who has been sorely missed in recent months, with Marsch [set](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-phil-hay-drops-patrick-bamford-update/) to call upon the forward against Aston Villa and Norwich.

The likes of Phillips and Bamford could prove key in regards to the club’s hopes of survival, and a ‘bigger role’ at Elland Road will more than likely follow for the midfielder if he stars over the coming months.

***In other news: [Phil Hay drops huge Leeds news from Thorp Arch before Villa.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/?p=390145&preview=true)***