Twenty3’s Under 23s to watch: Daniel Phillips

St Johnstone’s Daniel Phillips is emerging as one of the top midfielders in the Scottish Premiership.

After spending his youth career at Chelsea alongside the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi, he joined Watford and spent a season at Gillingham before moving to McDiarmid Park.

Phillips is also a Trinidad and Tobago international, making his debut in 2021, and has won six caps overall.

Using Twenty3’s Smart Reports, we analysed the midfielder to detail the impact he is making in the Scottish top flight.

Defensively dominant

Phillips has shown plenty of promise throughout the season – particularly in a defensive capacity.

St Johnstone’s No34 launches himself fearlessly into challenges, winning 2.39 loose balls and 13.97 duels per 90 – ranking second in the league for both metrics.

He also attempts an average of 14.39 defensive actions per 90, succeeding with an impressive 10.63 of those.

As shown on his defensive action area map, the 22-year-old covers plenty of ground, especially in the middle third, where he is most active.

His ball recovery is also key higher up the pitch, helping his side turn the ball over in dangerous advanced areas, from which they can spring attacks against disorganised defences.

However, Phillips can be overzealous when contesting duels, committing 2.39 fouls per 90, resulting in nine yellow cards and one red card this season.

Progressive passer

In the Scottish Premiership this season, Phillips received the ball 251 times and completed 383 passes – 91 forwards and 75 backwards – painting a picture of a midfielder who often looks to play forward but also knows when to keep it simple.

He has also completed 52 of his 90 final third passes, as well as four of his five key passes.

His overall completion rate for forward passes is low, however – as demonstrated by the Smart Report’s passing sonar – and his accuracy with more ambitious passes is an area of his game which could use some refinement.

Confidence on the ball

Phillips has also demonstrated the ability to wriggle away from defenders, often using his quick feet to dribble his way out of trouble.

The Trinidad and Tobago international completed an impressive 28 of his 43 attempted take-ons in 2022-23, but perhaps his most eye-catching of those came against champions Celtic – despite being put under pressure by three opponents, the 22-year-old produced an audacious heel-to-heel flick to spin past the trio.

Callum Davidson, who managed St Johnstone until April, was glowing in his assessment of Phillips’ abilities.

He said: “You can see that Dan is very combative and physical. But he is really good on the ball, [he] takes it and holds it for you. He is a confident young man.

“I think Saturday [against Ross County] was the first game he hasn’t been booked in. I was pleased with that! He is learning all the time.

“He has qualities, aggression and physical strength. I was really pleased with him at Ross County. You see a lot of things in him and think ‘wow’.”

Phillips is effective in advanced areas, recording 2.27 successful attacking actions per 90, but his eagerness to drive at opponents can sometimes see the midfielder give the ball away cheaply – he averaged 10.45 ball losses per 90 and conceded possession in dangerous areas eight times this term.

The midfielder is still young, though, and will no doubt continue to refine his game and improve as he garners experience.

St Johnstone certainly have a promising player on their hands.

All visualisations and Smart Reports in this article were produced with the Twenty3 Toolbox. For more information, please get in touch below.