Ashley Phillips, a center-back for Plymouth Argyle who has been one of the team’s standout players since switching, is still getting a lot of praise for his mature performances.
While the Lilywhites were suffering with injuries in their backline, Phillips would have been frustrated not to see much action at Tottenham during the first half of the season.
In order to gain regular game experience, the 18-year-old temporarily relocated to Plymouth in January. At Home Park Stadium, he has demonstrated why so many people find him so admirable by putting up calm and impressive performances as a member of the Championship club’s back three.
When the transfer window opens in June, Postecoglou told Football.London this week that the team plans to bolster at center back.
Ashley Phillips continues to impress at Plymouth
The teenager on loan from Tottenham was commended for his mature performance despite the Pilgrims’ 1-0 loss to Preston at home on Saturday. If Phillips continues in this vein, the Australian may be tempted to give the teenager a first-team role instead.
“While Argyle’s attacking play was poor for the most part, defensively they were solid enough and limited Preston to just four shots on target, although another attempt from Layton Stewart hit a post late on,” Plymouth Live noted, awarding the former Blackburn player a 6/10 rating.
“The eighteen-year-old Phillips once again demonstrated his maturity, winning the majority of his challenges and maintaining enough composure to occasionally bring the ball out of defense.”
Postecoglou’s statement that he wants to sign a new center back suggests that Tottenham may decide to loan Phillips out once more the following campaign. If the teenager keeps up his good play at Plymouth, a loan to a Premier League team might be in the works.
