Foden handed England debut in Iceland Nations League clash

Share

Gareth Southgate handed Phil Foden his first senior call-up last month and the Manchester City man is straight into England's starting XI.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden will make his England debut after being selected to start Saturday's Nations League match against Iceland.

Foden, 20, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at City last season, featuring with increasing frequency in Pep Guardiola's first team.

He made 38 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight times – a haul that included five of his six career strikes in the Premier League.

Particularly strong form after lockdown persuaded Gareth Southgate to call up Foden, who has 15 England Under-21 caps and was a star performer during the Three Lions' U-20 World Cup triumph in 2017.

Foden looks set to line up on the left of a midfield three anchored by West Ham's Declan Rice, with Southampton's James Ward-Prowse another surprise inclusion.

Kieran Trippier starts in the unfamiliar position of left-back, with Southgate having opted against selecting a specialist in his squad.

Saturday's Nations League Group A2 encounter is the first meeting between the two countries since Iceland stunned England with a 2-1 upset win in the last-16 phase of Euro 2016.

Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling both featured in that match and line-up alongside Jadon Sancho in Southgate's forward line in Reykjavik.

Foden handed England debut in Iceland Nations League clash

Gareth Southgate handed Phil Foden his first senior call-up last month and the Manchester City man is straight into England's starting XI.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden will make his England debut after being selected to start Saturday's Nations League match against Iceland.

Foden, 20, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at City last season, featuring with increasing frequency in Pep Guardiola's first team.

He made 38 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight times – a haul that included five of his six career strikes in the Premier League.

Particularly strong form after lockdown persuaded Gareth Southgate to call up Foden, who has 15 England Under-21 caps and was a star performer during the Three Lions' U-20 World Cup triumph in 2017.

Foden looks set to line up on the left of a midfield three anchored by West Ham's Declan Rice, with Southampton's James Ward-Prowse another surprise inclusion.

Kieran Trippier starts in the unfamiliar position of left-back, with Southgate having opted against selecting a specialist in his squad.

Saturday's Nations League Group A2 encounter is the first meeting between the two countries since Iceland stunned England with a 2-1 upset win in the last-16 phase of Euro 2016.

Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling both featured in that match and line-up alongside Jadon Sancho in Southgate's forward line in Reykjavik.

MatchesLeaguesNews