PRAISE
‘You need to get him on the pitch’ – Phil Foden is closest thing England have to Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, insists Hal Robson-Kanu, who urges Gareth Southgate to start him in World Cup last-16 clash against Senegal
Gareth Southgate has been told by Hal Robson-Kanu to start Phil Foden as he is the ‘closest thing’ England have to Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
The Wales icon, 33, has urged the Three Lions boss to name the Manchester City star in his line-up to face Senegal in Sunday’s World Cup last-16 clash.
Foden has started just once in Qatar so far – the Group B finale against Wales where he scored in the 3-0 win.
There was uproar from fans and pundits after Southgate opted against fielding Foden for the 0-0 draw with USA.
But following his impressive outing against Wales, Foden is tipped to keep his place in the team.
Though it remains to be seen whether he could feature on the left wing or play in the No10 role behind Harry Kane.
And Robson-Kanu has stated Foden has to be deployed in a central position as he compered his technical ability to that of Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Mbappe.
Robson-Kanu told talkSPORT: “Me personally, I would be playing Foden off the striker.
“Because any player who looks at another player and sees that level of technical ability, you’re just like, ‘get him on the ball in areas where he can hurt the opposition’.
“[Mason] Mount can do that, he’s done that for Chelsea and he’s scored big goals in big games for Chelsea as well and has done well in an England shirt.
“But I just think Foden is, when you look at those players at the likes of France, the likes of Brazil, the Neymar’s, the Mbappe’s.
“Foden is the closest thing that England have to that level in calibre of player.
“So you need to get him on the pitch and you need to give him game time.”
Like Robson-Kanu, Ray Parlour believes Foden has to be played as a No10 as he named him in his line-up to face Senegal.
Keen for an attacking team, Parlour wants Foden to feature up top alongside wingers Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka with Kane leading the line.