‘Generational talent’ Phil Foden MUST start for England at the World Cup, says Gary Neville… but Jamie Carragher would rather see Bukayo Saka play because the Man City man ‘hasn’t done it for England’
- Gary Neville has claimed that Phil Foden must start for England at the World Cup
- Neville branded the Manchester City man a ‘generational talent’ on Monday
- Jamie Carragher, however, suggested Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka should play instead
- Carragher said Foden ‘hasn’t done it for England’ and Saka gives ‘better balance’
Gary Neville has suggested there will be a ‘real problem’ if England can’t find a place for Phil Foden in their starting XI at the World Cup.
With the tournament now fewer than seven weeks away, fans and pundits alike are debating what England’s starting team should be for their first game, and who should be in the 26-man squad.
One place up for debate seems to be in the right forward position, with many torn between Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka for the starting spot. Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, was adamant it had to be Foden.
Gary Neville has said there is a problem if Phil Foden doesn’t start for England at the World Cup
Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, branded 22-year-old Foden a ‘generational’ talent
‘I feel really strongly on the forward options,’ said the former England full back.
‘I love a lot of those players but if we can’t find a starting position for Phil Foden in our national team I think that’s a real problem.
‘He is a generational talent. He is a different level in that sense. That feels more wrong to me than Trent Alexander-Arnold.’
Foden scored a hat-trick for Manchester City on Sunday in the side’s Manchester derby win
Foden has been a regular for England since breaking onto the scene at Manchester City, but has struggled to put a run of performances together for his country despite his good form at club level.
That’s one reason why Jamie Carragher, also speaking on Sky, suggested Saka should start in his place, as well as the fact the Arsenal man would give the Three Lions ‘more balance’.
‘A lot of clamour for the change of system is for individual players,’ Carragher said.
Jamie, Carragher, meanwhile, said Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka should play ahead of Foden
Carragher, also speaking on Sky, claimed Saka has ‘done it’ for England, whereas Foden hasn’t
‘Foden you could argue is the most talented player. He is a better player than Saka, but he’s not done it for England. Saka has done it for England, and the balance is better.
‘We have a centre-forward that likes to come deep and Saka makes more penetrating runs. I’m just thinking what will suit Harry Kane.’
England boss Gareth Southgate is set to name his squad for the tournament later this month, with England’s first game, against Iran, set for November 21.