England lock horns with Wales in their final World Cup group game on Tuesday night and Gareth Southgate is expected to make changes to the side that laboured to a 0-0 draw with USA on Friday.
Vital Man City believe there’s a slim chance Phil Foden could replace Buyako Saka at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium after his below-par showing last week and Bryan Robson has demanded Southgate makes the change.
He wrote in his Daily Mail column: ‘I’m firmly of the mind that Phil Foden can make a big difference. Mason Mount did okay in the first two games, but Foden has everything and can frighten any defence. Take the risk, go forward and that is where players such as Foden excel.’
Foden has made 20 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City this season, scoring eight goals with three assists. The 22-year-old has made 19 appearances for England, scoring two goals with six assists, but his international form dwarfs in comparison to his domestic.
Foden hasn’t scored for England since 2020 and hasn’t made an assist for eight months, so Southgate might have an issue with his output. The Three Lions manager said he won’t use the 22-year-old as a makeshift midfielder, so Mount shouldn’t be at risk of losing his place to Foden.
But Saka wasn’t at his best days ago and might benefit from a rest as this is England’s third game in just over a week.
In other news, Man City face PL rivals in FA Cup 3rd round – here’s their head-to-head record
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