Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips has won plenty of plaudits over the past year.
The midfielder followed up a successful first season in the Premier League with a starring role for England as they reached the European Championships. But one aspect he certainly isn't getting praise for is his fashion sense.
A picture on Twitter has gone viral, showing the 26-year-old signing an autograph for a fan whilst wearing a bizarre pair of shoes. The orange boots have to be seen to be believed and they certainly drew plenty of criticism and confusion from fans on social media.
One wrote: "Kalvin Phillips wearing a pair of Cornish Pasties earlier today." Another said: "What’s Kalvin Phillips got on his feet mate?" Another put: "No way on earth he’s gone out like this."
Phillips has suffered from injury concerns this season and his last Premier League appearance came way back on December 5 last year against Brentford. He underwent surgery on a hamstring complaint at the tail end of 2021. He was on the bench for Leeds' dramatic win over Wolves before the international break and again starts on the subs' bench for Saturday afternoon's home meeting with Southampton.
Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch gave an update on the chances of Phillips and skipper Liam Cooper being available to face the Saints in the build-up to the game. Cooper, incidentally, has been handed his first start since that same Brentford game earlier in the season. Marsch said: "I think they're both in contention to start. I think they're both probably not fully 90 minutes fit but really close. I don't think we can start both of them, because then it's already potentially two subs we have to make but I think that we will think very carefully, we'll have a meeting today about exactly where they are.
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"I've spoken with both of them already and they both are feeling good and they both are looking even better. So we're obviously really excited to have them in the group now and think they can both have a massive impact in our team."
Leeds are likely to again encounter a summer where they have to fend off interest from other clubs for homegrown product Phillips. Tim Sherwood, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa boss, believes he would strengthen the midfield of Arsenal or Man United.
Sherwood said on The Kelly and Wrighty Show: "If you cut him in half he bleeds white. He really cares about that football club. Will he leave for money? I don’t think he’s that type of player. I think he will want trophies though and he will want to continue playing every week to stay in that England team. If he goes to Man City or Liverpool, he doesn’t play for them. Man United he certainly does, he improves them and Arsenal. I think Kalvin Phillips has another year there [at Leeds] because it will be tough for him to leave."
