Should Gareth Southgate start Phil Foden? Experts say YES as pressure mounts on the England boss

World Cup experts – including Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville – have given their verdict on whether Phil Foden should start for England against Wales next week.

Foden has starred in the Premier League for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City so far this season, but has been resigned to the bench in England’s World Cup campaign thus far.

As Gareth Southgate continues to omit the youngster, many are wondering what more the winger has to do to earn a place in the starting line-up for England.

England star Phil Foden is yet to make an impression with his country at the Qatar World Cup

The 22-year-old talent has been largely unused by England manager Gareth Southgate

Gary Neville

I’m struggling with Phil Foden not starting because I think he’s our best player in the country by a mile. Foden is a generational talent that I feel has to play.

Gareth Southgate has said that Foden isn’t a player who plays in midfield positions — those No 10 roles of Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount.

Well, that means [against the USA] Foden was England’s fifth-choice wide player. But I have to say that, [when it comes to] those two No 10s and those four wide players, I believe Foden is the star among them.

Foden made his only World Cup appearance in England’s opening win over Iran

Jamie Carragher

If you’d told me before the tournament that Foden would only feature for 19 minutes of the first two World Cup games, my initial thought would have been he must be injured.

Speak to any England supporter watching the Premier League over the last three years and ask, ‘Who is the most naturally gifted English footballer today?’ and 80 per cent would say Foden.

It felt strange for Southgate to opt for Jack Grealish ahead of him against the USA.

Danny Murphy

There are questions about Foden not playing, but it’s a consequence of having so many great individuals in the squad.

It was all about Grealish at the Euros last year and James Maddison in the build-up to this World Cup. Now there are complaints that Foden hasn’t been used. I don’t share the outcry. Marcus Rashford scored seconds after getting on the pitch against Iran. 

If Southgate had brought on Foden instead of Rashford against USA and the game had ended 0-0, he would have been criticised for leaving out Rashford.

But Foden has been widely backed by ex-players and pundits to start against Wales

Jesse Lingard

I’ve heard people ask why Southgate didn’t make more changes against the USA, not least why he didn’t bring on Foden. 

All I can say is that there are always reasons that won’t be apparent from the outside. Squad depth gives you options for different situations and England have multiple situations still to come in Qatar.

Michael Owen

I’m astonished that England have used 14 players so far yet our most talented player is still on the bench.

Joe Cole

I would change the attacking line-up and stick with those in defence. I would start with Grealish on the left and either Bukayo Saka or Raheem Sterling on the right. I would select Foden as a No 10 behind Rashford. Playing him in that role against Wales would allow him to get into central areas and influence the game.

Gary Pallister

We should have seen Foden come off the bench more. It looked like a choice between him and Saka [to face Iran] and Saka was fantastic, but Foden’s a fantastic player and I would probably start him.

Foden has cemented his place as a regular amongst the ranks of Premier League champions Man City