Jamie O’Hara believes there is one position where Phil Foden does not play his best football.
The pundit was discussing where Foden should start in the Three Lions’ line-up at Euro 2024.
Last Thursday, Wayne Rooney claimed that the 24-year-old should play as a number 10 for England.
The Manchester City midfielder offers Gareth Southgate several options of where to play him; on the left-wing against Belgium in their 2-2 draw but behind the striker in their 1-0 defeat to Iceland.
Jamie O’Hara makes interesting observation about Phil Foden
The question is where Southgate will start Foden in Germany, starting with England’s opener against Serbia.
Initially, Jamie O’Hara advocated for Phil Foden to play on the right-wing if Bukayo Saka is an injury doubt for the start of Euro 2024.
O’Hara said on talkSPORT: “There are reports that [Bukayo] Saka now is in a race to be fit for the start of the tournament so who would you [Jason Cundy] put there? It’ll make it easy to put Phil Foden out on the right maybe and where do you play Cole Palmer?”
“I think Anthony Gordon has to start on the left. I’d start him on the left and if Saka’s not fit, I’d play Foden on the right. I’d play [Jude] Bellingham and [Harry] Kane. That’s what he’s [Gareth Southgate] going to do. I’d put Bellingham as centre-mid with Declan Rice.”
The pundit added: “Personally, if Saka was fit, I’d play Bellingham as a sitter alongside Declan Rice with Phil Foden as a number 10. But if Saka’s not fit, then you’ve got to go with Foden.”
Jamie O’Hara claimed that he would not like to see Phil Foden deployed as a left-winger — as he feels the role does not suit him.
“I don’t like Foden on the left. Whenever I’ve watched Foden play on the left, I’ve probably watched one game where he was good and it was against Man United, must’ve been a couple of seasons ago where Pep [Guardiola] was playing him on the left and he was looking good.”
“But I think he’s wasted, I think it takes away his talent on the ball, in and around tight areas.”
“It’s just a waste, he’s not a winger.”
Phil Foden should start as a number 10 at Euro 2024 regardless
In Foden’s defence, he has performed as a left-winger in the past, notably during the 2020/2021 season, which was his breakthrough campaign at the Etihad Stadium.
However, as Jamie O’Hara claims, ideally, Phil Foden should start as a number 10 for England at Euro 2024.
Even if Bukayo Saka is unfit to start in the Three Lions’ opener against Serbia or for even a few more games, Cole Palmer could slot in as a wide forward on the right-hand side.
The £225,000-a-week man is a natural attacking midfielder — a position he has shown he is a superstar in last season and grew up playing.
Jude Bellingham, on the other hand, who seems to be Gareth Southgate’s go-to option behind the striker has mostly operated as a number eight in his professional career.
For Southgate to get the best out of Foden, he should play him in his natural position and then determine whether he is satisfying his demands in the role.