Phil Foden has expressed his desire to play centrally more often going forward.
Foden starred for Manchester City in their 3-1 win over Brentford on Monday night, scoring a fine hat-trick as his side leapfrogged Arsenal into second in the Premier League table and closed the gap to Liverpool to two points.
The 23-year-old has shone this season as his side look to defend the historic Treble they won last term, playing centrally more often in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, who has missed the majority of the season through injury.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, the midfielder expressed his wish to play through the middle more often, admitting it’s the position he feels he plays his best football in despite limited opportunities in the role.
Phil Foden has revealed that he sees himself ‘playing in the middle’ for both club and country
The Manchester City man scored a hat-trick in his side’s 3-0 win over Brentford despite playing out wide
Foden has played centrally for the majority of the season in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne (left), who has been injured
‘I’m really delighted with my performances at the moment, I’m playing a lot of minutes now and more inside where I want to be,’ he said, asked if he wants to play centrally for both club and country. ‘This is the best form I’ve had in a City shirt in a long period of time so long may that continue.
‘It’d help if I played one position and learnt that every game but I’m a person that adapts and plays a lot when needed. I know in this Man City side I’m going to do that but I’m enjoying playing anywhere in the middle, that is where I see myself and hopefully I can keep playing there.
‘All I set myself is try and better last year’s stats. Being an attacking player at Man City that is your goal, I think I’m doing that but need to show this level of performance more often.’
Foden admitted that ‘it would help’ if he could play in one position regularly, though said he can adapt to different roles
Foden has often found opportunities limited at international level too, frequently finding himself on the bench for England despite playing in the best side in world football.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate said last year that Foden needs to play centrally for his club more often to be chosen there for his country, but Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher claimed it’s time for the City man to be played in midfield for England.
‘It’s really interesting what he said about playing centrally,’ Carragher began. ‘In terms of natural talents, there is no one that can go against him [for England], maybe Jude Bellingham. Bellingham has made is his own, the team is built around him. I thought that was going to be Foden.
The 23-year-old has found game time a struggle with England at times, rarely trusted to play centrally by manager Gareth Southgate (centre left)
Jamie Carragher called for Southgate to start Foden in the Three Lions side on a regular basis going forward
‘Being at City where you move probably hasn’t helped him. It’s probably a conundrum for the England manager, the fact he’s moved positions so often has probably hindered him. I think he can play wide and do brilliant, but I always thought when David Silva moved on that would be his position but it never quite happened.
‘It feels like to play central, Pep puts a lot on that. There is no doubt Jude Bellingham could play slightly deeper. I think it would be a bold move and why not when you have players of that quality? If Spain had them they would probably both play as eights.
‘How can they pick an England team without Foden in it? When you have a talent like that it’s on you to get that in the team.’
