Wayne Rooney believes Manchester City’s Phil Foden has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season and he has to be in England’s European Championship squad this summer, even suggesting he should be in the starting XI.
Foden has not played regularly for Pep Guardiola’s side this campaign, but when he has been given chances he has been very impressive.
This was most notable in the recent 4-1 win over Liverpool when the 20-year-old was fantastic, scoring his fifth league goal of the season.
It was Foden’s 11th Premier League start of the season as he competes with a number of high quality players in attacking areas for City, but continues to hold his own.
Rooney feels that, if he keeps up his fine form, then he will be a big part of England’s squad in the summer, believing that Foden and Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish could be in Gareth Southgate’s starting line-up.
‘I think [my advice] for Phil Foden is to keep doing what he’s doing,’ Derby County manager Rooney told reporters.
‘I think he has been one of the best players in the league this season. Guardiola has managed him really well.
‘I spoke to him a couple of times and you could see he is a very level-headed lad. So, to keep doing what he’s doing. He’s entertaining to watch, great to watch.
‘I think there’s a few players, not just him, [such as] Jack Grealish who bring something different to the national team. They have to be in the squad for the Euros and arguably have to play. They are that good.
‘He’s scoring, he’s assisting and hopefully he can carry that form on with the national team.’
Fellow Manchester United legend Gary Neville is also a huge fan of Foden, comparing him to other Manchester City superstars in David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne.
‘I remember Brian Kidd (City’s assistant) saying to me about 18 months ago, “If Foden doesn’t make it as a football player, we might as well pack it in”,’ Neville told Sky Sports.
‘You watch him here, we’ve seen glimpses in the last couple of years, but in this last month or two, it looks serious; this performance, this consistency. And it’s consistency that young players have to produce week in, week out.
‘Watching Phil Foden, it’s breathtaking watching players like that. I love watching brilliant players, you think of David Silva for Manchester City or Kevin De Bruyne. Every time you come and watch them, you just think, wow, what a player.’
MORE : Pep Guardiola criticises Phil Foden after Man City’s 4-1 win against Liverpool
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