Stephen Kelly has revealed whether he would start either Phil Foden or Bukayo Saka on the right-wing for England at Euro 2024.
Both Foden and Saka have produced incredible displays from the right flank since breaking through at Manchester City and Arsenal respectively.
However, the latter is a natural right-winger.
Foden, on the other hand, has previously delved into why the number 10 is his favoured position on the pitch.
Stephen Kelly makes “controversial” right-wing claim about Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka for England
One way to fit both players in would be for Saka and Foden to simply play in their natural roles in the side.
However, Wayne Rooney foresees the Manchester City midfielder being deployed on the left-wing in Germany.
On the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast, Stephen Kelly claimed that he would start Foden over Saka as England’s right-winger at Euro 2024.
“See, I’m going to go controversial here. I’d pick him over [Bukayo] Saka, [Phil] Foden. I’d have Foden on the right, I think it’s his best position. I know he likes the [number] 10 but I think he’s more effective off the right than he is off the left.”
Best to play Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in their natural positions
Considering Saka is a natural right-winger and has thrived in his natural role for England in previous tournaments, it is surprising to discover he prefers Foden over him in that position.
For the Three Lions to go as far as possible at the tournament, it would be best if Gareth Southgate played his players in their natural positions.
Considering there is a possibility of Foden and Saka co-existing in the same environment, most nations would snap up the chance to deploy them in their natural roles and let them do what they do best.
With the Arsenal poster-child being excellent for England in major tournaments, it would be an absurd decision to drop him.
But with City’s number 47 arguably being his country’s most in-form player and having looked uneasy out wide even at club level, to deploy him in that position again would also be bizarre.
How Southgate profiles profiles players like Foden and Saka will be interesting to discover.