Phillips signed as a midfielder from Wycombe on deadline day and the 19-year-old has caught the eye at full-back in two substitute appearances so far. The £325,000 buy claimed an 85th-minute equaliser against Blackburn just two minutes after replacing Neal Eardley. He then gave a nerveless second-half display to help the Seasiders claim a 2-1 victory at Liverpool after replacing Eardley at half-time. With Eardley unable to join up with the Wales squad due to his ankle injury, Phillips could come into the starting line-up as the Tangerines host City at Bloomfield Road when the Premier League resumes this weekend. "Maybe I should keep playing him there," Holloway told the Gazette. "Maybe he'll get a chance. "[Liverpool's] right-back, Glen Johnson, plays for England and I didn't see much difference between the two of them." Although Phillips drew Blackpool level against Blackburn, Holloway felt the teenager was at fault as Brett Emerton grabbed a stoppage-time winner to give Rovers a 2-1 win. But Holloway believes he has already shown he can adapt to the new role. "I didn't go gung-ho in that game - we just made a mistake towards the end and forgot our structure," he added. "Matt Phillips got carried away, but it was understandable considering the boy had never played there. I thought at Liverpool he did it superbly."
