MY LION CUBS LET’S STAND AND DELIVER ARE ICE-COLD BEAUTIES
England boss hails Foden and Greenwood as he looks forward to a thrilling future
BOSS Gareth Southgate hailed Phil Foden as “a beautiful player” as he prepares to g ive the Manchester City kid his senior England debut. Southgate is considering starting with the 20- yearold in Iceland after revealing he has known for five years that he had enough quality to play for England. The Three Lions chief is ready to usher in a wave of new talent as he also praised “ice-cool” Mason Greenwood, but it is clear that he thinks Foden can seize his big chance.
Southgate said: “We have known for a long time the ability Phil has. I have worked with him in an Under- 15s camp, four of five years ago. You knew the quality. I think we wanted to be a bit patient.
“He’s a hugely exciting talent and we didn’t want to expose that too early. We felt that while he wasn’t a regular for his club, to be playing for the Under-21s was helpful for his development and getting regular match time.
“But at the end of the season and post lockdown he had a good run of games. You could see that physically he had adapted.
“We know that it’s a much tougher ask to get into Manchester City’s team than others and we were not blind to that. I think it’s time to give him his head and we see him being with us moving forward.
“And nothing I have seen this week would suggest in any way that that’s not going to be the case. He can play eight, 10, seven, 11.
“He will do it differently. If he plays wide he is not going to be a winger to hug the touchline.
“We need to be able to give him the freedom to come off the line, get between the lines, play with the passes that he can make. He’s a beautiful player to watch.”
Southgate was also gushing about 18-year-old Greenwood.
He is unlikely to be thrust straight in against Iceland but his international manager clearly feels the Manchester United’s teenage striker is also an England star of the future.
Greenwood is comfortable with both feet and Southgate admits he was “embarrassed” to ask the youngster which foot he prefers. “It is really rare to see a player as comfortable with both feet, not just in terms of the ability to receive and pass but finishing with both feet,” said Southgate.
“There aren’t many that I have seen. I feel slightly embarrassed.
“You’ve picked a player for England and you’re not sure which foot he kicks the ball with, but maybe some people won’t be surprised at that.
“With him, there’s the quality of finishing, the way he’s got this icy cold stare and the very calm disposition, which I think is clear when he’s in and around the penalty box.
“For somebody of his age, that’s remarkable maturity.”
Southgate has been left with various selection dilemmas but may have to play Kieran Trippier at left- back, while keeper Jordan Pickford could start against Iceland with his deputy Nick Pope set to get a chance against Denmark. run for two or three years now but merely to get where we have been before won’t win any accolades.
“The team has to acknowledge that but I know they are hungry. The fact that Raheem Sterling (below) and Harry Kane are here signals that intent and signals their desire to play for England, and to win things with England.
“There is a balance to be found in not heaping pressure on the team but accepting there is expectation on the team.”
Because of the pandemic, pan tonight’s fixture fixt is England’s first firs since November. Even Eve Southgate admitted adm he has felt rusty rus since coming back bac to prepare for the double-header dou with Iceland Ice and Denmark. He added: “It was only two weeks ago that we came cam back to the office, never nev mind the coaching coa pitch.”