Wharton ‘ready’ to fill Phillips role for…

Adam Wharton says he can be Kalvin Phillips’ replacement in Gareth Southgate’s England midfield at Euro 2024.

Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has started England’s two group games in midfield, a move which Southgate admitted “is an experiment”.

Wharton, who joined Crystal Palace from Championship side Blackburn on 1 February, is one of the potential candidates to replace him and play alongside Declan Rice.

 

“I have got belief that no matter who, where, when I play football that I can affect a game so you have to think like that,” said the 20-year-old.

“If I think I can’t handle this, then what am I doing here? The way I look at it now, I believe I can affect any game I play in so I am just making sure I am ready if I am called upon to help.”

Phillips started every game as England reached the Euro 2020 final and was named England’s player of the year that season.

But after joining Manchester City from Leeds in 2022 he struggled for first-team football, and a poor loan spell at West Ham saw him drop out of the England squad.

“If there was someone like that playing at this tournament, you’d be saying the same thing I think.

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