‘Immense’ – Shrewsbury boss hails Crystal Palace loanee’s debut in Sunderland FA Cup defeat

Shrewsbury Town boss Steve Cotterill described Killian Phillips’ debut as “immense” and said the players handed the Crystal Palace loanee a round of applause in the dressing room following the game.

The 20-year-old joined the League One side on a six-month loan for the rest of the 2022-23 season at the start of January.

Phillips played the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Championship play-off hopefuls Sunderland in the FA Cup.

The Irish midfielder made his Crystal Palace debut under Patrick Vieira earlier in the season in the 2-0 EFL Cup win over Oxford United.

“I thought it was an incredible debut by Killian Phillips,” said Cotterill.

“He was immense in there. 

“I just said there after speaking to the boys: ‘What an incredible debut from a young man.’

“The lads gave him a round of applause [in the dressing room] and rightly so.

“He’s another one – for the next few months here – who is going to be all in for us.

“He’s a terrific lad as well. I’m so, so pleased for him.

“He’s only been here for 10 days, and he’s absolutely gutted in there that we have been beaten. He has bought into it already.”