Everton youngster Kieran Phillips is reportedly on trial at Sheffield United.
Our friends at HITC did some digging on Monday after the Blades fielded an unnamed trialist for their Under-23s match against Bolton Wanderers.
Not only that but the player scored in the 3-3 draw at the University of Bolton Stadium.
While the official United Twitter account and match report did not identify the forward, Bolton’s did.
There are two players called Kieran Phillips currently playing in English football. One is in the Toffees’ development side and the other plays for Bristol Rovers’ Under-18s.
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Logic would suggest that this particular Phillips is the former. Especially considering the links the Blades have with his Under-23s manager David Unsworth.
Unsworth has previously been a player and coach at Bramall Lane. So it is likely that links remain between the two clubs.
Kieran Dowell was loaned to United last season, for example. Mo Besic is currently on loan from Goodison Park.
Who is Kieran Phillips?
(Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
The striker joined Everton at Under-13 level and progressed through the academy. Yet in 2016, Phillips suffered a double knee fracture that some feared might end his career before it had even gotten started.
Due to the severity of the injury – with surgeons having concerns his knee would collapse – the 19-year-old spent two-and-a-half years in recovery.
But when Phillips returned he hit the ground running with two goals in his first game for the Under-18s. A hat-trick against Manchester City followed and the teenager ended 2018/19 with 12 strikes in 11 matches.
That earned Phillips his first professional contract, putting pen to paper on a one-year deal.
While clearly well regarded by the Toffees, it is not unusual for youngsters in the final year of a contract to go on trial elsewhere.
The Blades have history when it comes to signing young players unwanted by other Premier League clubs. Only this term they gave a one-year deal to Callum Gribbin following his release by Manchester United.
