Phil Foden to Start England's Nations League Clash Against Iceland
Gareth Southgate is set to hand Phil Foden his first international cap in England's Nations League opener against Iceland on Saturday.
Foden impressed for Manchester City in a starting role during 'Project Restart' and his performances solidified his position in Pep Guardiola's starting lineup. He now looks set to become the much needed long-term replacement for club legend David Silva.
He is expected to start in Reykjavik later on Saturday, as per Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett, and Southgate has revealed he expects Foden to be a regular part of his squads moving forward.
Full of praise for Foden this week, England boss Southgate said via Goal: “But now we felt at the end of the season and post lockdown he had a really good run of games. You could see that physically he had adapted.
“We know that it’s a much tougher ask to get into Manchester City’s team than others and we were not blind to that.
“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.
Exclusive: #mcfc Phil Foden will make his #england debut later today. He is in the starting 11 to face Iceland.
— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) September 5, 2020
“He can play eight, ten, 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.”
Southgate is understandably trying out new combinations in an attempt to find his midfield for the future. According to the Mail Online, Southgate trialled using Foden in a midfield three at St George's Park this week, playing him alongside teammates Declan Rice and James Ward-Prowse.
That midfield certainly offers a steady balance of defensive security in Rice, energy in Ward-Prowse and creativity in Foden. The Three Lions are missing a number of injured midfielders, including Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ross Barkley, James Maddison and Harry Winks.
“We’ve known for a long time the ability he has,” Southgate on Foden. “I worked with him in an U-15s camp, four of five years ago. You knew the quality. We wanted to be a bit patient. We’re conscious he’s a hugely exciting talent and we didn’t want to expose that too early. 1/4
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) September 5, 2020
The Mail Online also add that Southgate plans to hold an audition for the position of first-choice goalkeeper ahead of next year's European Championship.
Current number one Jordan Pickford looks set to start this weekend but Nick Pope and Dean Henderson are providing welcomed competition for the position.