Debutant Kalvin Phillips was among those singled out for praise as head coach Neil Redfearn saluted the desire of his side following Monday evening’s narrow defeat away to Wolves.

Phillips, a United Academy product, went straight into Redfearn’s team for the televised clash at Molineux and completed the full 90 minutes in a spirited Leeds display.

The 19-year-old replaced suspended midfielder Rodolph Austin, who served the first of his three-match ban, and he played a hand in United’s opener, pressuring Wolves into a defensive mix-up to allow Charlie Taylor to slot home.

Wolves turned things around, though, and raced into a 3-1 lead after 48 minutes with United appearing to be out of the game, but an own goal from Wolves captain Danny Batth and a stunning left-footed Alex Mowatt effort pulled them level, only for Dave Edwards to snatch the three points for the hosts two minutes from time.

"I think, at this moment in time, that’s synonymous with what we’re doing," Redfearn said of the effort from his side.

"They’ve got a real togetherness and a real will to want to work with one another. They just won’t lie down. It’s got to bode well for the future.

"Kalvin Phillips made his debut on Monday. I thought he was a different class in there, you wouldn’t have thought it was his first game.

"He gave us physical presence and pressured well for the first goal – McDonald’s ball across and then Charlie put it in.

"With his first touch and his range of passing, I thought he played well. Murphy used his experience in there with two young guys."

Mowatt levelled proceedings with another spectacular strike, his ninth goal of the season, and Redfearn says it was a prime example of what the midfielder is capable of.

"We’ve come to expect it now," he said. "Mowatt is a different class and his goal was out of the top drawer.

"The disappointing is that we conceded four goals. If you score three goals away from home, you expect to win never mind get a point.

"But they showed desire and a determination to get back in it.

"If we play like that with that desire, that determination and that will to win, we’ll win far more games than we’ll lose."

Phillips was one of three changes from the defeat to Blackburn two days earlier, as Giuseppe Bellusci made way for Liam Cooper and Steve Morison was replaced by Mirco Antenucci in attack.

Redfearn explained: "Giuseppe Bellusci has a calf/hamstring problem so he came out. Coops came in and did well.

"Kalvin came into midfield. It was always going to be waiting for when, rather than if he would make his debut, because he’s ready.

"I think he showed that on Monday.

"Mirco came in up front and Morro had a breather because he’s done that lone striker role for a while now and we’ve got to look after him.

"I thought Mirco played well. He showed some good touches.

"He was unlucky not to get in front of goal a couple of times with some neat bits of play.

"He linked play quite well and he put a shift in for us. I thought all of them really worked hard and deserved something."