Leeds United’s star defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips believes his teammates are fully ready to return to action in the near future.
Championship football is getting closer to a return after a lengthy break due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Leeds are in the contention to cement their spot in the Premier League next season with automatic promotion as they are currently placed on the top of the Championship table with 71 points, seven clear of third-placed Fulham with just nine matchdays to go.
Phillips was quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post where he revealed that he feels fitter than he did before the lengthy break started back in March.
“I missed the last game with a sore knee,” he said.
“I think the first week or so gave you time to recover. When we got back we did a bit of running but as you could tell, we’re as fit as we have been.
“I felt exactly the same, if anything I’m probably fitter and stronger than I was before the pandemic.”
Talking about the team’s overall physical condition, the 24-year-old is of the opinion that the Leeds players are ready to resume action.
“We were concerned that if we’re not fit enough or we’re not right, it’s not going to go well for us,” he said.
“But I think when we do get to these murderball sessions, having worked hard throughout the pandemic, we can see where we’re at and I believe we are ready to start the games now and finish the season.”
Phillips is a Leeds academy product and was promoted to the senior team in the summer of 2015.
Since then, the defensive midfielder has represented his current club in 175 matches in all competitions where he has 11 goals and 10 assists to his name.
Leeds fans are desperate for a return to the Premier League and Phillips is a key man in Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
The combative midfielder is a key cog in the Whites machine and will be hoping to play top-flight football with his boyhood club in 2020-21.
