‘He is our most gifted player’: Declan Rice raves about Phil Foden’s quality with England
‘He is our most gifted player’: Declan Rice raves about Phil Foden’s quality despite the England star’s lack of minutes at the Qatar World Cup… as Kalvin Phillips identifies the No 10 slot as his Man City team-mate’s best position
- Phil Foden has received public backing of support from his England teammates
- England midfielders Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips raved about Foden’s ability
- Rice labelled the 22-year-old as England’s ‘most technically-gifted player’
- While Manchester City teammate Phillips insisted Foden’s is best as a No.10
England stalwart Declan Rice has labelled Phil Foden as the Three Lions’ ‘most technically gifted player,’ while Manchester City and national teammate Kalvin Phillips has insisted the attacker’s best position is playing as a number 10.
Foden has been the talk of the England camp in the build-up to Tuesday’s World Cup clash against Wales as Gareth Southgate ponders whether to start the Man City star.
Foden came off the bench for a bit-part appearance in England’s opening tournament domination of Iran before being an unused substitute in their goalless draw against USA.
Phil Foden has been the talk of the England camp ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Wales
Declan Rice (left) and Kalvin Phillips (right) have both publicly backed Foden to star for England
There have been demands from aggravated England fans to give the 22-year-old serial Premier League title-winner more minutes in the Middle East with Southgate preferring to use Chelsea duo Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount in Foden’s favoured positions.
But now Southgate is under pressure from members within his Three Lions squad as City teammate Kalvin Phillips and West Ham captain Declan Rice raved about the young star on the eve of England’s final group game.
England’s talent-laden squad is packed with superstars, but Foden’s standout performances for his boyhood club left many hoping he would be one of the first names on Southgate’s team-sheet.
Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate is yet to hand the 22-year-old a first World Cup start
Foden (middle) was an unused substitute in England’s recent goalless draw with USA
Rice believes Foden is the team’s ‘most gifted’ player and backed the adaptable attacker to ‘come back stronger’ after a frustrating World Cup campaign so far.
He can bring anything he wants, he is technically our most gifted player, he can wiggle out of things and play beautiful passes.
Phillips and Foden have bonded in England training
‘Whatever the manager decides Phill will be ready for that. Every time he puts on a shirt he gives his everything and he tries things people wont try. He will always come back stronger and if he plays he is a weapon.
Fellow England midfielder Phillips echoed similar sentiments about Foden’s quality but believes his City colleague’s best position is as a playmaker behind Harry Kane.
‘Phil can offer a lot of things, for me his best role is at 10 where he can float about, get on the ball and take it past people and does what he wants. When he is given the chance he will shines and he is just waiting for that chance.
England will be hoping to top their World Cup group when they meet Wales in Qatar on Tuesday evening in a ‘Battle of Britain’ clash with Foden hoping to be handed a first start at the tournament.
Three Lions boss Southgate hinted he may be ready to hand Foden his full World Cup debut as he told ITV Sport: ‘We love Phil, he is a super player.
Foden will be hoping to get his chance to shine when England take on Wales on Tuesday night
‘He was into the first game, we decided not to put him into the second. But he is going to play an important part in this tournament for us, there is no question about that.
‘We haven’t got any issue with Phil. In September he started both games for us and we put him into the game versus Iran.
