'He can play eight, 10, seven, 11' - Southgate lauds 'beautiful player' Foden

Gareth Southgate says he is ready to hand Phil Foden his debut for the senior England national team as he lists the player’s qualities.

Phil Foden became a regular in the Manchester City team towards the end of 2019/20 after impressing in the limited playing time he got in the early parts in the season.

The 20-year old ended the season with 38 appearances across all competitions, with eight goals and nine assists to his name.

Foden’s meteoric rise has seen him tipped to fill the shoes of David Silva, who left this summer after a decade at the club, by many, including manager Pep Guardiola.

Currently on international duty, he became a part of the England national senior team for the first time as he was included in the Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming Nations League clash against Iceland.

And with Jordan Henderson out injured, Southgate suggests Foden could be included in his starting XI.

“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,” said the manager, as per Goal.

“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, follow, with the passes that he can. He’s a beautiful player to watch.”