Roy Keane is confident one Manchester City player will perform for England regardless of where Gareth Southgate deploys him.
As the Three Lions face Serbia on Sunday, potential starting XIs are being drawn up by fans and pundits alike to guess how Southgate will line his team up.
The England boss is fortunate that in Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and John Stones, he has three versatile players to pick from who can allow him to be tactically flexible. However, it seems likely that Walker and Stones will start in their natural positions against Serbia.
Roy Keane now makes confident claim about Phil Foden in an England shirt
The Manchester City attacker, however, could be a potential starter on the left-wing for Gareth Southgate, considering Anthony Gordon has no experience of playing in major tournaments for England.
The £225,000-a-week man has already played in two major tournaments for his nation.
When Roy Keane was quizzed whether Foden could struggle for England if played as a left-winger, he disputed such a claim and stated that he would thrive wherever he plays.
On ITV Sport, he said: “I think so. It’s obviously, club, different dynamics at international level to club level, [Kyle] Walker’s just mentioned there.”
“But the most important thing, particularly with attacking players and just as important [for Phil] Foden, which he’s done for Man City and matured really well is he can affect the game. That’s what it’s about so where he is on that football pitch, he will affect the game.”
Keane added: “He’s matured, he’s shown great leadership qualities for Man City, particularly earlier in the season where they were missing some really important players. Obviously, his goalscoring form, he’s matured well, he affects games and no doubt in my mind, wherever he plays for England, he’ll affect [the game].”
Roy Keane was asked whether it concerns him where Foden starts for England.
The pundit replied: “I personally wouldn’t. He’s got that football intelligence, when to drift in, when to go wide and again, he affects games, that’s the bottom line.”
“That’s what the great players, they have courage, not afraid to make mistakes and Foden has that in abundance, that’s the least of his worries.”
Recently, Sam Allardyce had a different view on the matter, stating that it is unfortunate that the six-time Premier League winner is expected to deliver for his nation, despite often playing out of position.
If Phil Foden is allowed to drift inside against Serbia, he could wreak havoc
While Roy Keane correctly states that Foden has the footballing intelligence and courage to thrive out wide for England, he remains at his dangerous best in central areas.
If the Stockport-born midfielder does start on the wing during England’s opener against Serbia, it will be interesting to see whether Gareth Southgate prefers him staying out wide or drifting inside.
If Foden is handed the freedom to roam into central positions, he could wreak havoc with his eye for a pass and his thunderous left foot.
The 24-year-old, if positioned in close proximity to other superstar attackers like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham could help England put Serbia to the sword.
For that to occur, Foden will have to be handed a degree of positional freedom by Southgate for Sunday’s clash.
