Young Lions ‘will get chance in the Premier League’

PHIL Foden and his World Cupwinning team-mates WILL get the chance to shine in the Premier League.

That is the belief of England Under-17s coach Steve Cooper, who’s side recovered from 2-0 down to stun Spain 5-2 in the final in India on Saturday.

Foden was one of three City players in the squad along with Joel Latibeaudierre and Curtis Anderson.

He has won praise from manager Pep Guardiola and been part of the first-team squad without making his senior debut yet.

And Cooper is convinced the opportunities will be there for him and his other young starlets if they are good enough.

He said: “The academies are doing some outstanding work and we really believe in what we’re doing with the national teams.

“Results are starting to show and I think people are starting to sit up and take notice of how good English players really are.

“And as long as we keep doing that I’m convinced there will be more opportunities further down the line.

“I don’t think there’s anybody that purposely doesn’t want to give English players a chance, but maybe we should be looking a bit closer to home.

“There might be a player already in the wings waiting to step up.”

Cooper’s group, who arrived home yesterday, are not as far down the road in their football journey, but he believes they have both the technical ability and the mentality to succeed.

“These boys have got to enjoy this moment, but they will quickly know they’ve got to get back to every day development work in training and games,” he said.

“They know nobody’s anywhere near the finished article yet.

“They’re a grounded bunch, they work really hard, they get on with each other really well.

“They love playing football, they love being footballers, and as long as they keep that enthusiasm and that appetite, they will have a good chance.

“They’re still very young and there isn’t one way of being ready to be a footballer.

“Some might break through not far from now and others need to go through the full cycle and maybe aren’t ready until they are 20 or 21.

“All that is important is that when the boys are ready, the opportunities are there.”