Gareth Southgate has been told there’s no reason why Phil Foden can’t play centrally alongside Jude Bellingham in the England starting XI.
Foden was the star of the show on Monday night as he inspired Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Brentford.
The London club actually took the lead through Neal Maupay and the Blues were struggling to break them down until Foden pounced on a loose clearance and calmly slotted home.
The 23-year-old would go on to score a header and a cool finish to complete a hat trick and secure the vital three points.
Foden has been showered with praise after his performance, with Pep Guardiola even saying he is playing the best football of his career.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was also left enamoured and believes its time Foden got a chance to play in the middle for England.
Jamie Carragher tells Gareth Southgate how England’s midfield should look
“It’s really interesting what he said about playing more centrally. In terms of natural-born talent in the England squad, you think Jude Bellingham is perhaps the only one who can go up against him,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football after the game.
“For England, there is no reason why he can’t play in that position. I think criticism of Gareth Southgate being too defensive can be a little over the top, but this would be a bold move, and why not when you’ve got players of that quality. In Spain, he and Bellingham would play as two No 8s.”
It’s time for Gareth Southgate to unleash England’s best midfield
With only four friendlies left before Euro 2024 gets underway, its hard to see Southgate changing his plans drastically.
Yet, having Foden and Bellingham in the centre of the park makes too much sense not to implement. Surely?
They are England’s two best midfielders and it would be criminal for one – Foden – to be farmed out wide. Even if he is comfortable there.
Though both players are attacking-minded, they are all-action and aren’t adverse to mucking in with defensive work. With Declan Rice behind the pair, it remains a solid midfield trio and there shouldn’t be much concern about leaving the defence exposed.
Southgate has often pointed to the fact that Guardiola plays Foden on the flanks as reasoning for not playing him in the middle. But with that changing at City, the Three Lions boss no longer has that excuse to hide behind.
