How Kalvin Phillips responds to latest career setback may shape Sheffield United revival as Blades' plan revealed
Kalvin Phillips backed to bounce back from latest career blow after red card tempers Sheffield United derby joy
Chris Wilder has no concerns about how Kalvin Phillips will handle the latest setback to a career that has been more stop than start in recent years, following his red card in Sunday’s Steel City derby win over rivals Wednesday. Wilder’s Sheffield United ran out 2-1 winners at Bramall Lane to secure a historic double-double, and send the Owls down.
But the outcome could have been a lot more comfortable had Phillips not seen red just minutes into the second half, after catching Svante Ingelsson on the knee with his follow-through of a challenge deep in United territory.
It was only the Manchester City loanee’s third game for the Blades, after ending his spell on the sidelines at the Etihad by joining on loan on deadline day, and he had just shown signs of getting himself going before getting himself banned for three further upcoming games.
It is a blow for both the player and the Blades, who face league leaders Coventry City at the Lane tomorrow and must prepare for upcoming clashes with QPR and West Brom without the former England international.
”It’s the first time we’ve seen him without a smile on his face,” Wilder admitted. “He’s just smiled all the way through. He’s such a humble boy. Kyle Walker [the former United man and Phillips’ former Man City teammate] is down in the changing room with him now.
“Rhian Brewster is down there as well. That’s just the type of club we are. We love him to bits. I’m disappointed, but I've talked enough about Kalvin through the period. He's here to enjoy his football.
How Kalvin Phillips will respond to latest career setback as Sheffield United revival plan stalls v Wednesday
“In my first meeting with him, I thanked him for coming and playing a part, which he will do, and helping us win games of football. And helping the likes of Ollie Arblaster and Sydie Peck and all the other boys, in terms of being a top player and having been at a top club.
“And he was the other way. ‘Thanks for giving me the opportunity.’ So it’s the first time we’ve seen him a little bit down, but he'll get over it. We'll get through this little period. We'll put a little bit of work into him from a physical point of view, and he'll be okay.”
Phillips’ red card swung the momentum of derby that up to that point had been almost embarrassingly one-sided, with Charlie McNeill’s goal soon after making a game of it. But United recouped with impressive cameos from Arblaster and Djibril Soumare off the bench, with former midfield reinforcements imminent.
“I don’t know where he goes with his foot, a little bit,” said Wilder on the red card challenge, “but when you look at it, it doesn’t look great. It was a competitive game, which I expected it to be.
“It had to be. I think Henrik [Pedersen, Owls boss] said it, and I would say 99.9 per cent of Sheffield Wednesday fans would have said it the first game ... They went out the back door. So we understood how their approach would be. So I've got no issue with it, and I enjoyed that part of the game from both teams.
“But, yeah, the timing of it changed things maybe a little bit. I don't know where he goes with it. But the referee's right in front of it, makes that decision. It’s disappointing for him, for getting into a rhythm, because you see the quality that he possesses when he's on the pitch.”
Phillips became the fifth United player to be sent off in their last eight games. Fellow new boy Joe Rothwell returns from suspension in time for Saturday’s trip to Loftus Road, while Tom Davies and Jairo Riedewald are edging closer to returns after injury.
“These things happen,” Wilder added. “I don't think we're a reckless team. A couple of boys there have mistimed the challenges and paid the price. Tom Davies will be available for the weekend, even though I think that'll be more of a medium-to-long term plan for him.
“We got more minutes into Blaster, Djiji coming on. With Jairo, we felt that he just needed three or four days of full training, to be ready for the Coventry game. But obviously these things happen, and he has to be ready to go.”