Thomas Tuchel sent 'one of the best' England message on ex-Leeds United star

He left Leeds United for a little over £1m in 2022, but now Leif Davis is one of the best left-backs in the Premier League - according to Whites legend Kalvin Phillips.

The pair have been reunited at Ipswich Town, with Phillips moving to Portman Road on a season-long loan from Manchester City in the summer. The switch has been a positive one for the former England international as he looks to get his career back on track after a nightmare period at City and on loan at West Ham last term.

It has also meant rejoining former Leeds team-mate Davis in Suffolk, where the 24-year-old has put in a series of impressive performances. There was talk on a England call-up for the defender, who only played 14 times in a Leeds shirt before a permanent move to Ipswich, although Newcastle United's Lewis Hall was given the nod by interim Three Lions boss Lee Carsley.

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However, Phillips has been hugely impressed with Davis' contribution to Ipswich's bid to avoid relegation back to the Championship, and feels an England call will not be far away when Thomas Tuchel takes over in the new year.

“I was surprised he wasn’t called up to the last squad," Phillips told the East Anglian Daily Times. "Against Tottenham I thought he was very good. He’s definitely one of the best in the league. I just feel like there’s space for a natural attacking left-back, which is probably the way that (Thomas) Tuchel will want to play.

“I feel like I’m expecting the call-up for Leif more than he is expecting it. I’ve not really said it to him much, because I don’t want to make him feel pressurised, but I do feel like his time is going to come and when it comes I just want him to be able to grab it with both hands.”

Davis has played every minute of every Premier League game for Ipswich so far this season, scoring in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City and contributing a further two assists.