During the previous European Championship, Kalvin Phillips played in all seven matches for England, who ultimately finished as runners-up.
However, as Euro 2024 approaches, the midfielder faces a genuine possibility of not making it into the squad at all. This is quite a decline considering that Phillips is currently 28 years old, which is typically considered the prime years of a player’s career.
Despite this, since his transfer to Manchester City in the summer of 2022, there has been little for him to celebrate on an individual level.
After spending 18 months on the bench at the Etihad Stadium, Phillips managed to secure a loan move to West Ham United during the January transfer window. This move appeared to be a rare agreement that benefited all three parties involved.
Things have not gone according to plan for Phillips or West Ham. The loanee’s recent costly mistake during the weekend match resulted in a penalty for Newcastle United, contributing to their 4-3 victory.
It is important to note that the team’s collapse from a 3-1 lead cannot be solely attributed to Phillips.
Phillips was in dire need of leaving Manchester City during the winter transfer window, and West Ham seemed like the perfect destination. Manager Moyes prefers to have a British core in his team, and there were ample opportunities for playing time with West Ham juggling domestic and European commitments. In the latter half of the 2020/21 season, Jesse Lingard excelled on loan from Manchester United at the London Stadium.
However, Phillips’ current form is a far cry from his impressive performances for Leeds United and England during Euro 2020. His lackluster displays for West Ham have resulted in a disappointing WhoScored rating of 5.82, the lowest among all Premier League players who have made five or more appearances in 2024.
Furthermore, his pass completion rate stands at a meager 79.5%, which is unusually low for a midfielder of his caliber.
Unsurprisingly, the fans have been far from impressed with Phillips’ performances. In fact, his frustration reached a boiling point after the Newcastle loss, where he was caught raising his middle finger towards a group of supporters.
To make matters worse, Phillips was left out of Southgate’s squad during the March international break, indicating that he faces an uphill battle to regain his place in time for Euro 2024.
Since joining West Ham, his fortunes have taken a turn for the worse, leaving the beleaguered England international in a difficult position.