Numbers suggest that both Mills and Whelan are wrong over Kalvin Phillips’ replacement – Report

It would be a bit of a radical change it must be said.

But when you’ve got such an influential player missing, then it’s all hands on deck. With Marcelo Bielsa recently hinting that Ben White could be the one to replace the suspended Kalvin Phillips in the upcoming game with Huddersfield Town, something that was heavily criticised by Danny Mills, one other former White has suggested making a different change in defensive midfield.

Speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan has suggested that Jamie Shackleton should be the one to fill in that spot against Huddersfield:

“If he is fit, he would be the perfect replacement for Kalvin. He’s missed a lot of this season due to injury and having him back is like a new signing. He’s the answer to Marcelo Bielsa’s prayers. He’s got the energy, intelligence, work-rate, mobility, passing range and aggression to play the defensive midfield role.”

The only problem for Whelan, and to an extent Mills is that the numbers don’t exactly back up the claim that he would be the ‘perfect’ replacement, and suggest that White really should be the man to replace Phillips.

If you look at the statistics, White is the closest man to replicating the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’.

With Phillips averaging 3.7 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 0.3 blocks, he is far and away Leeds’ most effective barrier when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. Then take a look at White, who averages 1.8 tackles, 2.6 interceptions and 0.5 blocks, whereas Shackleton only manages 0.6 tackles, 0.1 interceptions and 0.1 tackles.

Now whilst Huddersfield might not look the most daunting of opposition, currently sitting 19^th in the league and without a win in four, Leeds will still have to be on their guard. They need to try and keep things as close to ‘the norm’ as possible, so by replicating as best they can Phillips’ displays in midfield, that should give them the best possible chance.

And if he can protect the back four as well as Phillips, then it shouldn’t matter who has to fill in for White, because he won’t have much to do.