Phil Foden Named in England Squad
By David Crook
After being repeatedly overlooked by England Manager Gareth Southgate, Phil Foden has now received a call up to the England squad.
Over the last couple of years Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has carefully nurtured the developing career of young English player Phil Foden. Pep has given him game time in increasingly important matches in a variety of tactical roles.
For his part Foden has continued to work hard and has never let his head drop and his concentration waiver. Throughout the British media have stood on the sidelines, jeering, believing the lack of game minutes for Foden is a stick with which to beat Pep.
The reality of course has been different. Foden has been managed well. The hunger and desire to perform and develop has been harnessed and gradually his physical strength and endurance has developed too.
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It is not a surprise to see the distances covered by Foden during matches, routinely over half marathons. His harrying and pressing has been a key feature of City’s renewed energy post lockdown.
Southgate has always seemed to apply different rules to Foden than to other English players at other clubs, insisting that he could not be picked unless he had regular club game time. Of course the consequence of this intransigence is that England have laboured without the skills of Foden, looking ordinary and devoid at times of inspiration.
However, the impact of Foden upon Manchester City since the restart could no longer be overlooked, even by Southgate.
The first senior call up to England is a big moment in the career of Phil Foden, who harbours ambition to make the squad for next seasons delayed Euro Finals. He will want to seize his chance.
Yet watching fans may have to contend with Foden only getting his chance from the bench. So far Southgate has proven stubborn and there is no reason to think this will be any different.
Right now though we should marvel at the career of Foden. Already a mutiple title winner and now a product of the City Academy in the England set up. Let us hope this is the start of a long International career.