Manchester City star Phil Foden has been a prominent figure in the England team during the 2024 European Championship.
Specifically, the 24-year-old has started all three of the Three Lions’ group stage games of the tournament.
Despite that, claims have been made concerning how the six-time Premier League trophy winner has not been able to show his best throughout the competition due to Gareth Southgate continually deploying him in a left-wing role.
Ahead of Sunday’s knockout clash against Slovakia, one pundit and former England player has shared his suggestion about what Southgate needs to do so Foden can give his best for the national side.
Darren Bent shares what Gareth Southgate needs to do with Phil Foden ahead of England vs Slovakia
Appearing in a recent video shared on the talkSPORT YouTube channel, Darren Bent had this to say about Foden and how he could be more effective for England than he has been so far in the tournament.
He said: “By putting him into that number 10, I think we will see the best of him. I think everyone wants to see Phil Foden in the 10. He always looks more comfortable coming from a central area.”
Foden has shown he can shine in a central role
Bent isn’t the only talkSPORT pundit to say how much he’d like to see Foden play a number 10 role for England, as Gabby Agbonlahor said after just one game of the Euros that this would be the ideal place for the City star to play.
Looking back over his previous season with Pep Guardiola’s side, the Englishman featured as an attacking-midfielder on 15 occasions and was able to score 13 goals in the process.
After being named Man City’s Player of the Season, Foden told the club’s official website that playing centrally has helped him develop his game significantly and that he hopes to play there regularly moving forward.
Focusing on Sunday’s big game against Slovakia, if Southgate were to play the Premier League’s Player of the Season for last term in a central attacking role rather than out wide, we feel this would give Foden the chance to fully express himself and influence the game much more.