Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Glenn Hoddle has suggested that Manchester City starlet Phil Foden should be starting for England after he was an unused substitute against USA on Friday night.
Foden was left on the bench as the Three Lions drew 0-0 with Gregg Berhalter's side last week, with the Blues man having played just 17 minutes of football for England at the World Cup so far. He enjoyed a brief cameo as Gareth Southgate's men thrashed Iran in their opening match of the tournament.
The 22-year-old has registered eight goals and three assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola's side so far this season, but he is yet to start for his country in Qatar.
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Southgate has been criticised for leaving Foden on the bench on Friday, and ex-Spurs man Hoddle has claimed that the Blues man needs to get minutes under his belt. Speaking to Betfair, the 65-year-old suggested that the City star needs to produce when he does get his opportunity.
"Before the tournament, the team I picked for England had Phil Foden in ahead of Mason Mount," Hoddle said. "I think Mount is a very good young player, he's excellent but I think Foden has something special. We haven't been able to see that yet, but I hope Gareth Southgate gives him time on the pitch. If it's from the bench or if he starts him.
"I really like Mason Mount and this is no determent to him, but if Foden had the same amount of games as him, his productivity and goals would be up there and we'd see what he's all about.
"I just feel that Foden has something special. He can drive on into the box with or without the ball, he goes by players at pace, he's intelligent, he scores goals and creates things. I think that he deserves a chance at some stage, not necessarily instead of Mount.
"Foden can play in the three in midfield, or as a wide player that can come in. There are all sorts of positions and options that England have for him."
Hoddle also claimed that Foden will feel under pressure to deliver, but urged the 22-year-old to play with freedom because he believes that the player will 'come through'.
He added: "The problem for him now, when you're a creative player as good as he is, it's not about one game. A creative player like him, to get to the levels that he has at City, he needs a run of games where he knows the manager is really is behind him.
"If Foden goes in the team, other players aren't going to have the same responsibility, he will have to create and score. Creative players are the ones that everybody looks towards to make the difference, you can't do that in just one game, you have to build on it.
"For a creative player to go in there now, he'll feel under pressure. If he comes in and does well under pressure, then credit to him and he's got to build on that and hopefully he'll be given a chance. Against Wales he may play and not have the best of games, I'm not saying he will but that could be the case.
"Look what he does for City week in and week out. When he has an England shirt on I don't think he feels that same way at the moment and you can understand why.
"When you're a special player like he is, you have got to feel like you're in the team, and you need to feel like the team is going to be built with you in mind, not necessarily around you, but you need to feel part of it. Give him a couple of games where there's no pressure on him if he has a couple of poor games so be it, because in the long run this kid will come through."
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