Gareth Southgate faces major England selection calls but Phil Foden solves biggest dilemma

Manchester City’s in-form star is the clear choice to join Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka in attack, but Three Lions have problems elsewhere
Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP13 March 2024

As Gareth Southgate prepares to name his final squad before this summer’s European Championship on Thursday, one of the biggest conundrums facing the England manager has surely been resolved.

Since England last played in November, Phil Foden’s scintillating form for Manchester City has made him the obvious choice to join captain Harry Kane and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka in attack and, provided they come through the weekend unscathed, Southgate will surely pick the trio in tandem in at least one of the Wembley friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.

Foden has put clear daylight between himself and club-mate Jack Grealish and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford.

No one has ever been in any doubt about Foden’s quality, but he is now backing up his obvious class with some seriously impressive numbers for City - 17 goals and 10 assists so far this term.

Between them, the 23-year-old Foden, Kane and Saka have directly contributed to 100 goals already this season and there would be no better front line in Germany next summer, especially when No10 Jude Bellingham is added to the equation.

Only France, led by Kylian Mbappe, really come close. The rest of England’s forwards are jostling to be understudies, although Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is making a compelling case for more minutes this month.

Anthony Gordon’s injury may scupper his chances of a maiden call-up, while Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling now appears permanently out in the cold.

Phil Foden should join Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka in England’s first-choice attack
Getty Images

One intriguing option for Southgate is to recall Brentford striker Ivan Toney, available again after his betting ban, and probably the best like-for-like deputy for Kane.

He has not scored in four, however, and it is doubtful if he has done more than Ollie Watkins or West Ham talisman Jarrod Bowen to justify a call-up.

In midfield, Southgate has more uncomfortable dilemmas. Bellingham and Arsenal’s Declan Rice are shoo-ins to start, but who joins them in the three?

Southgate favours a holding midfielder like Jordan Henderson or Kalvin Phillips, both of whom moved clubs in January with the Euros in mind.

Henderson’s reputation may be shredded by his stint in Saudi Arabia, but he is back playing competitively in Europe with Ajax. At 33, Henderson will surely make this week’s squad but is no longer a banker to start.

Phillips, though, has been a disaster for West Ham and there is no real case to name him in the squad, if Southgate is picking on form.

The manager could go for a wildcard like Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, United teenager Kobbie Mainoo or Luton’s Ross Barkley in midfield, where Trent Alexander-Arnold is an option for the summer but currently injured.

Even England, where first-rate right-backs are never in short supply, are struggling at full-back for the Brazil and Belgium games, with Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Reece James, Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell all sidelined, and Southgate seemingly unlikely to call up Arsenal’s Ben White.

Foden, Kane and Saka have directly contributed to 100 goals already this season and there would be no better front line in Germany next summer

Southgate could hand a maiden call-up to Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, who can play on either side of defence. City’s Rico Lewis is another versatile option, as well as Joe Gomez. With Palace’s Marc Guehi, Chelsea’s Levi Colwill and Harry Maguire also injured, Southgate has major concerns at centre-back, too.

Is it too soon to recall ex-Spurs defender Eric Dier, who has started well at Bayern Munich alongside Kane?

No1 Jordan Pickford and Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone are certain picks, but Aaron Ramsdale is under pressure from Rangers’ Jack Butland and not guaranteed to make the cut on Thursday.

No shortage of big calls for the England manager, then, but at least he should be clear on the make-up of his front four.

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