Stan Collymore made his feelings clear about Manchester City star Phil Foden, after seeing England beat Bosnia.
Gareth Southgate’s side ran out 3-0 winners at St. James’ Park on Monday night, with many fringe players getting some good minutes under their belt.
Euro 2024 is only a matter of weeks away now, and Southgate is trying to get a last look at some players before cutting his squad of 33 down to 26.
Last night against Bosnia, there wasn’t a great deal of representation for Manchester City, with only Jack Grealish getting minutes. None of Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and John Stones played.
After the game, Stan Collymore stated that he felt that Foden simply must play in the middle, despite him having no involvement against Bosnia…
Stan Collymore insists Phil Foden should be England’s number 10 over Jude Bellingham, but fears it won’t happen
Recently, there has been a big debate about who should play as the number 10 for England. Or if two players should operate in the middle.
Foden has just enjoyed the season of his life at Manchester City, and scooped the Premier League Player of the Season award and FWA Player of the Season award.
He spent most of his time playing as a number 10, dazzling with his technical ability and quality on the half-turn.
There has been increased clamour in recent weeks for him to play centrally. But Bellingham has also had a very strong season with Real Madrid in an advanced role.
For Collymore, it is clear that Foden should be the man to play in the middle. He replied to a fan on X: “He deserves to be England’s 10, even ahead of Bellingham. But because he’s played left for England and City, he’ll end up left. Solution is Rice holding, Bellingham/Foden slightly in front in tandem, Saka right, A.N Other left.”
Collymore could be right
It would be no surprise if Southgate did end up putting Phil Foden out on the left during Euro 2024.
It is clear now that him playing centrally is where he is best, and he himself feels more comfortable in that role.
But Southgate is going to want to try and accommodate people, and Foden’s versatility could actually count against him here. As Collymore says, Foden is no stranger to playing on the left for City.
Perhaps the face he hasn’t really truly shone yet in the middle for England could also count against him. Foden did speak recently about the criticism he’s had for not performing in and England shirt.
It is very possible he’ll be shunted out wide, with Jude Bellingham playing in the middle, with probably Declan Rice and Conor Gallagher holding. Or if Southgate was going to be a bit bolder, perhaps Foden would play out wide to allow Cole Palmer to play in the middle alongside Bellingham, with Rice holding.
