Talent Foden ‘has to play’
Pressure mounts on Southgate to explain the omission of Foden
struggling with Foden a little bit just because he’s our best player in the country by a mile,’ said Neville. ‘Phil Foden is a generational talent. I feel as though he has to play, he has to be played into form and it has to work with England.’
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville added: ‘I went through my career with England where there were times where Paul Scholes was mishandled.
‘I even woke up this morning thinking about Phil Foden, wondering: “Has something happened in training? Has something happened off the pitch which has meant that Gareth hasn’t seen what he wants to see?”
‘Because Gareth answered the question after the game that Foden isn’t a player that plays in those midfield positions, those No10 roles of [Jude] Bellingham and [Mason] Mount. Well that means that last night, Phil Foden was fifth-choice wide player for England.
‘You’ve got [Bukayo] Saka and [Raheem] Sterling, and then you’ve got [Jack] Grealish and [Marcus] Rashford that came on. I like all four of those, so it’s not a reflection on any four of those.
‘But I have to say that those two No10s, Bellingham and Mount, and those four, I do believe Phil
Foden is the star among all of them. I do believe he’s the most outstanding talent out of all of them, even though they’ve all got brilliant talent.
‘Phil Foden is an amazing football player, someone that you just see once in a lifetime. He plays for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and he would be in the Argentina, Brazil, Spanish, French, German starting XIs.’
Rooney, England’s record goalscorer and former captain, added: ‘I found it very strange that Foden did not come on as a substitute against the USA. If you have a talent like Foden, you simply have to play him.
‘He has the form to go with the ability. If I were him, I would be very frustrated that I didn’t get on the pitch at any stage of Friday’s game. He creates chances, he scores goals, he influences games and he gives you control.’
Striker Kane, meanwhile. looked to be struggling with the injury he sustained against Iran, with photos emerging of his ankle swollen after the game —and Mail on Sunday columnist Murphy said Southgate should rest him on Tuesday.
GARETH SOUTHGATE is under growing pressure to justify leaving out Phil Foden after England’s 0-0 draw with the USA, with debate around whether the Manchester City player will start against Wales on Tuesday intensifying.
Foden did not even get on as a substitute on Friday night and, while the player was understood to be naturally disappointed, he is ready to play his part on Tuesday.
Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville became the latest high-profile England names to profess they were baffled by the decision, as further doubts emerged as to whether it would be wise to start Harry Kane against Wales.
The 2018 Golden Boot winner had a swollen ankle at the end of the USA clash and looked short of full fitness, with The Mail on Sunday columnist Danny Murphy urging Southgate to rest him.
But it is the non-selection of Foden causing most consternation. ‘I’m