Rio Ferdinand has questioned Gareth Southgate’s use of Phil Foden and urged him to build England’s midfield around the Manchester City star.
Foden replaced the absent Bukayo Saka on the right wing in the Three Lions’ 1-0 friendly loss to Brazil at Wembley on Saturday night, with Jude Bellingham in the number 10 role while Anthony Gordon was deployed on the wing left for his debut.
Meanwhile, Conor Gallagher was selected alongside Declan Rice at the base of midfield, before making way for English newcomer Kobbie Mainoo in the second half.
But Ferdinand suggested Southgate should deploy Foden in midfield, in a more attacking midfield, alongside Bellingham and Rice.
“If I played as a centre-back in England, I would be the strongest part of that team,” said the former Manchester United defender in his Vibrate with FIVE YouTube program.
Rio Ferdinand believes Gareth Southgate should deploy Phil Foden in central midfield
Ferdinand has urged Southgate to play Foden alongside Jude Bellingham in midfield.
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“If he played alongside someone like Bellingham, they would find a way to make that work: them and Declan Rice.”
“Leaving him out on the left, alone, isolated half the time, or on the right, will not allow him to get used to the game.” What we have been seeing this year, at City, has been him in central areas where he is constantly involved in the heartbeat of the game.
‘I’m just thinking, as a coach, if you’re seeing that, how does that not translate to your England team? I don’t understand.’
Foden is in the midst of an excellent season for City, scoring 18 goals and registering 10 assists in 42 appearances in all competitions so far.
The 23-year-old has exactly the same number of goals and assists (seven and four respectively) in 20 starts as a right winger as he does as an attacking midfielder, despite having started just 11 times in that position this season.
And Ferdinand suggested that Foden’s performances for City deserved to be recognized by Southgate ahead of the Euros.
“Gareth Southgate once said that he doesn’t play as a centre-back for his club, so he can’t choose him. But he has played as a centre-back for his club this season and is arguably one of the best players in the league,” he said.
“Foden, in the central areas, for the best team in Europe, this season, he has been playing centrally and he has been the guy they have looked to in moments of inspiration to get results and unlock things.”
Foden made a good start in the victory, replacing the injured Bukayo Saka against Brazil
Southgate has said he would not choose Foden for a role other than the one he plays at Manchester City.
But the England international shone as City’s attacking midfielder this season.
With Kalvin Phillips out, Gallagher, Mainoo and Jordan Henderson are the leading contenders to partner Rice in central midfield this summer, but Ferdinand insisted Southgate had to find space for Foden.
“I like Conor Gallagher, I think he has a place in that team at the moment, but I think Phil Foden, just because of his performance, forget what you think of him as a talent, why doesn’t he play there?
“If Gareth has been in those games and seen the way Phil Foden has played in the central areas, how does he not think he just has to bring him into the team and play him there (in the centre)?
‘Because the boy is doing it in the best team in Europe. Phil Foden is a player who can play on the left, on the right, in the centre, he will adapt, but only to a certain level that the team allows him in the correct position.