Phillips swaps Watford FC for loan with England League One club, Gillingham

Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Daniel Phillips will spend the upcoming season at England League One club Gillingham FC, after being sent out on loan by Premier League-bound Watford FC.

Phillips, 20, is a Watford Academy player who barely featured in his club’s first team during their Championship stint last season. As such, his move to Gillingham represents an opportunity to play competitively in England.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Daniel Phillips (left) tries to get his shot off despite pressure from The Bahamas midfielder Logan Russell during 2022 World Cup qualifying action in Nassau on 5 June 2021.
(via TTFA Media)

Last week, the Soca Warriors player was one of six Watford youths who were offered contracts by the ‘Hornets’.

“It shows the club has faith in me and I think it’s an opportunity to push on and prove myself that I can be a player at this club,” Phillips told the Watford FC website. “My family are so happy and really proud and I just need to prove myself at first-team level now.


“I want to go out on loan, stay fit this time and get a good run of games under my belt.”

Phillips, who was born in England to Trinidad and Tobago parents, first indicated his willingness to represent the Soca Warriors in 2019, while still a teenager. It was another two years before he won first cap under head coach Terry Fenwick, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying series.

The stocky box-to-box midfielder has three international caps at present. He was not selected for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup tournament by interim head coach Angus Eve.

Photo: (From left) Andre Fortune II, Daniel Phillips and Duane Muckette warm up for the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team in Santo Domingo on 8 June 2021.
(via TTFA Media)

Gillingham, who play in the third tier of the English game, once employed Trinidad and Tobago 2006 World Cup players Kelvin Jack and Brent Sancho. Jack, who still lives near to the club, was assistant coach and goalkeeper coach of the Men’s National Senior Team during Phillips’ international outings thus far.

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