Ashley Phillips has ‘all the attributes you could want in a centre-half’ as he catches the eye on loan at Stoke City.
The 6ft 4in 19-year-old, on a season-long loan from Tottenham, has been cementing a place at the heart of Stoke’s defence next to Ben Wilmot over the last few weeks and played an important role in a run of five unbeaten games.
He is still a work in progress but there is growing expectation that he has a future at the top level and keeper Viktor Johansson is enjoying the chance to play behind him.
“He’s got everything,” said Johansson. “He’s been unbelievable since he’s come in. It’s not easy, having had to wait for his chance as well, but every time he’s played he’s been really solid. He’s got every attribute you could want a centre-half to have.
“Ben can play everywhere and he’s a brilliant player to have in the squad. He’s been excellent at centre-half and he’s growing with every game. I think he’s brilliant for Ash to have in there as well, with that bit more experience. He can learn loads from Ben.”
He added: “Consistency is important and they’ve been brilliant. Two great lads and we really want that clean sheet. You can see the fire in their eyes when we speak about it. It’s a real pleasure playing with them.”
Wilmot is only 25 but that, along with 170 appearances in the Championship, make him a senior figure in the Stoke changing room, particularly while Ben Gibson, Ben Pearson, Sam Gallagher and Jordan Thompson have been in the treatment room.
“You have to step up,” said Johansson. “There’s always someone younger than you and Wilmo’s played plenty in this league and knows what it’s all about. To be fair Ash did well at Plymouth as well but the more games you get under your belt the better he’ll be.”
Johansson himself has taken the captain’s armband while Ben Gibson has missed out, first due to illness then injury.
“I love to take responsibility,” he said. “It’s not pressure but I like to have that responsibility. That’s something I really enjoy.”
Stoke are now heading into a triple-header of fixtures against teams who, like them, are stuck in the bottom half of the Championship; Portsmouth (Wednesday, 7.45pm), Oxford United (Saturday, 12.30pm) and Hull (Saturday, February 1, 3pm).
The table is logjammed around the Potters but Johansson, who will lead the team out at Fratton Park, said: “We always look up. That’s where we want to go, we can never look down, we’re just looking up.”
Johansson has been in the wars over the last few weeks and needed nine stitches in his arm after a Boxing Day challenge against Leeds United – but it will take more than that to worry him, let alone stop him playing.
“It was just a few stitches so I’m fine,” he said. “That won’t stop me from getting out there and playing football. It’s nothing major.”
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