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<\/p>\nGareth Southgate has raised doubts about Phil Foden shining in a central role for England. <\/p>\n
The Three Lions boss believes if \u2018best coach in the world\u2019 Pep Guardiola doesn\u2019t play the Manchester City star in the middle then why would he consider it. Foden, 23, has yet to really nail down a place in this England side despite his talents. <\/p>\n
He started games in the World Cup but hasn\u2019t since then and he came on as a sub in Saturday\u2019s 1-1 draw with Ukraine as the Three Lions\u2019 winning run in Euro 2024 qualification came to a halt. The City ace may get a chance on Tuesday night against Scotland to show what he can do but Southgate is unsure about giving him the freedom in a central role. <\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/b> 'Southgate persisting with picking Henderson and Maguire can cost England the Euros'<\/b> <\/p>\n
\u201cHe doesn\u2019t [play there] for his club,\u201d said Southgate. \u201cSo presumably there is a reason for that. It depends on the level of the game, really.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the middle of the park, everyone wants to talk about with the ball but there is a lot of detail without the ball. In games at the weekend, you are playing opponents who are so clever with their passing and movement that you have to be spot on with pressing angles, your responsibilities and if you don\u2019t, you don\u2019t get the flow of the game.<\/p>\n
Do you think Phil Foden should play a central role at club level? Let us know in the comments section<\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n
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\u201cYou\u2019d have to speak to Pep, who is the best coach in the world, who plays him from wide. He\u2019s always got the freedom to drift if we play him wide. And that\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Southgate seemed hesitant to make too many changes for Tuesday's clash at Hampden given it will be a hostile atmosphere in the fixture to mark 150 years since these two nations first met. But it would surely be an opportunity for Foden, 23, to display the form which has made him one of the most exciting young talents in European football.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very happy with Phil,\u201d said Southgate. "He\u2019s played in the Euros, came on in the semi-final of the Euros and had a big impact, he\u2019s played in World Cups for us, he\u2019s only 23 years old, he\u2019s got amazing experiences.<\/p>\n
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Sky Sports is bringing you 500 live football games to watch, as well access to Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA and more across eight<\/span> dedicated channels. Sky Sports is the <\/span>only way to watch all the action this year.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a322 a month<\/p>\n \u201cHe is still progressing and learning but he is a super player for us to have.\u201d There is still fierce competition in the wide roles while Southgate\u2019s reluctance to move away from 4-3-3 means there\u2019s little flexibility for him to play in a more central role with the likes of Jordan Henderson ahead of him in the three-man midfield.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have expectations of every player and he\u2019s a player who has been with us from a young age and was on the team that won the junior (Under-17) World Cup,\u201d added Southgate.<\/p>\n "But he\u2019s battling against Bukayo [Saka] and Marcus [Rashford] and all of the other players we have in that area of the pitch for us.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd at his club, with an incredibly high level of players – again we are not involved in his day-to-day development.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019m sure that Pep would feel the same, he has played in really important matches for them, in a team that has won so much, so we are happy with his progress.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article28734713.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_England-v-France-Quarter-Final-FIFA-World-Cup-Qatar-2022.jpg\")
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