Danny Murphy has urged England boss Gareth Southgate to start Phil Foden in his side’s starting midfield trio going forward.
Speaking on FIVE magazine’s official YouTube channel, the pundit had his say on the Three Lions’ ideal setup in the middle of the park.
Danny Murphy believes that Phil Foden should certainly be starting for England and that too in his natural position in midfield.
Danny Murphy says England boss Gareth Southgate should start both Phil Foden & Jude Bellingham
This season, especially after Kevin De Bruyne’s injury, the £225,000-a-week (Sport Rac) has been given more of a license to play in midfield.
So far, the England international, branded as ‘unreal’ by Rio Ferdinand has looked the part, with two goals and four assists to his name this campaign.
Despite Jude Bellingham perhaps being the most in-form attacking midfielder in world football currently, Danny Murphy believes England should find a way to play both him and Phil Foden in the middle of the park.
“Foden’s a joke as well!”
“[I would pick] Bellingham and Foden.”
“I’d go Bellingham, Rice and Foden, Saka and Rashford [as wingers].”
“Foden’s a more clever, intelligent kind of [player], in the pockets…”
Phil Foden is the kind of profile that the Three Lions have always missed
Danny Murphy is spot on and while Jude Bellingham is certainly in better form than Phil Foden, the latter’s profile is somewhat more key to his nation than most.
Barring perhaps Paul Scholes, England have always lacked a technically gifted controller in the middle of the park, capable of playing the game at a variety of paces.
On the other hand, the opposition they have often faced in previous tournaments have always possessed one player of this mould.
Foden’s technical security, comfortability in possession across all phases of play and knack of controlling games would allow the English to sustain control, elevating them both offensively and defensively as a result.
