Video: Tottenham’s Ashley Phillips scores first goal for Stoke with clever finish

Ashley Phillips has had a tought start to life with Stoke City during his loan spell this season, but he just bagged his first goal for the club, and a wonderful one at that.

Ashley Phillips struggling for minutes at Stoke

After a fairly successful spell with Plymouth Argyle last season, there were high hopes that Ashley Phillips could continue his development effectively at Stoke this term.

However, the young defender has made just two appearances in the Championship so far, and has been an unused substitute on six occasions.

He got 90 minutes under his belt at the weekend, though he and his teammates were on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline against Sheffield United.

Phillips has featured prominently for the Potters in the Carabao Cup, though, and managed another 90 minutes this week in a 3-2 defeat to Southampton in the fourth round of the competition.

Phillips off the mark in cup tie

With Stoke trailing 2-0 to their Premier League opponents, the cup tie appeared to be done and dusted, but the Championship side were back in it just before half-time thanks to Phillips’ first goal for the club.

With 45 minutes on the clock, Stoke won a free-kick about 35 yards out. The ball was fired into the box and, after a flick-on from Jaden Dixon and a richochet off Saints defender Yukinari Sugawara, the ball fell to Phillips, who coolly converted with a clever flick.

Phillips saw the ball floating just behind him, and in a stroke of genius, used a neat backheel finish to slot the ball beyond Aaron Ramsdale.

The start of a good run for Phillips

Hopefully, the fact he has played the full 90 minutes in the last two matches bodes well for Phillips, and he can put together a good run of consistent game time from here on out. There’s a good chance Phillips will be part of the first-team squad at Spurs next season, but he needs a solid campaign this year first.

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