Phil Foden: Man City star must play 'centrally' for England at Euro 2024, says Rio Ferdinand, Joleon Lescott

TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand says Phil Foden has "got to play centrally" for England at Euro 2024.

Foden made a rare appearance starting in an central attacking midfield role for Manchester City against Aston Villa on Wednesday evening and scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 win.

Former England and Manchester United defender Ferdinand believes Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate needs to find a way to play Foden in central midfield at the European Championships this summer.

"He’s [Foden] never too high and never too low," Ferdinand told TNT Sports. "He’s very balanced in his approach to certain situations. In-game and out of the game as well. He doesn’t get too overawed by situations.

"Even with the England team, surely he’s got to play centrally. This is the common debate at the moment, where to play Phil Foden to get the best out of him. These actions here tell you all you need to know.

"Get these clips up to Gareth and say ‘who else is doing this?’. Declan Rice holding, Jude Bellingham and Phil work it out between them.

"The advanced eight or 10 positions is how the top teams are playing. Arsenal do it, Man City do it. This kid is a player who will find a way. The intelligence levels of this player are supremely high.

"Bellingham is operating on a different level as well. You find a way to get those players in because they’re intelligent enough to complement each other. [Foden] is heading balls in his own box; he’s not shy of the hard work.

"He’s not shy of doing the dirty stuff. He wants to be clinical and do stuff at the business end of the pitch, but will roll his sleeves up as well.

"For England, in those big games, you need big players to manage moments and create moments. He does it as well as anyone."

Former England defender Joleon Lescott agrees with Ferdinand that Foden should be starting for England as a central midfielder alongside Arsenal's Rice and Real Madrid's Bellingham.

"England now have an opportunity to play him, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice," he said.

"Just figure it out between the three of them and I’m sure they’ll be causing a lot more problems for teams."

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