Nat Phillips has come in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers lately and clearly hasn’t set the heather on fire with his performances. Many felt that when the big central defender came into the club that he would automatically go into the starting line-up at Ibrox and then, pending a good showing, probably use his quality and experience to motor on from there and help guide an inexperienced Celtic team with Callum McGregor.
It didn’t get off to the most auspicious of starts when it was claimed that he arrived at Celtic Park with an injury which made little-to-no-sense, considering we were in desperate, dire straights for an experienced stopper despite signing two centre-backs and having another three already at the club. But the injury crisis was such that the club didn’t have any options as we had to head into important games with a very untried defensive unit.
From the off it seemed like it might have been a cursed signing with Nat injured to begin with. It would then take him time to get over that and then get up to speed. But as always, no games means you can’t get up to speed properly and it becomes harder and harder to get a look in sometimes. Republic of Ireland star Liam Scales grabbed his opportunity under the returning Celtic boss, Brendan Rodgers, and hasn’t looked back since as he’s been a mainstay and a massive surprise this year.
Nat had to be thrown into the thick of the action at half-time last mid-week against Hibernian and looked a bit dopey at times when Nick Montgomery’s men got into the final third. On Sunday, he couldn’t break that perception that he’s been a dud signing as he helped play Kilmarnock onside for one of their goals and didn’t look the dominant, experienced defender we thought we had bagged for situations such as Rugby Park. There’s only one way from here and it would be best if he managed to get out without any more poor performances. However, it looks like he will play against Feyenoord tomorrow night with Rodgers confirming that Carter-Vickers will not make it.
Anfield Football have claimed online via social media that Nat will now be called back to the club in the January transfer window, along with Aberdeen loanee Rhys Williams. The pair have both failed to make the required impact at their loan clubs’ and now Liverpool will seek to pull the plug. It’s a real shame as many thought we might have had something in a potential Carter-Vickers/Phillips partnership if things went well.
It’s just been one of those ones that has never really got going from the start. Maybe if he wouldn’t have arrived injured things would have been different – who knows?
Phillips only signed a short-term deal until January so he was going back anyway, unless Celtic were minded to re-negotiate with Liverpool. That seems unlikely so whether you are looking at this from a Celtic or Liverpool perspective the reality is that Phillips is their player and he will be heading down the road after the 2 January visit to St Mirren.
Liverpool are set to recall centre-backs, Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips after unsuccessful loan spells 🤔 pic.twitter.com/SCno7tzz2S
— Anfield Football (@AnfieldFootball) December 12, 2023
Paul Gillespie
Unfortunately Nat Philips has little future in football, he is error prone and nervous. The lad has a bit of height and strength but does not focus on those positives.
He is close to Shane Duffy on performance.