Jamie O'Hara has hailed Phil Foden as the best player in the Premier League, but has concerns over his role in the England team.
Foden netted a hat-trick in Manchester City's 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday night to bring his total to 21 goals this season and stake his claim to be crowned the league's player of the year.
Speaking to Grosvenor Sport O'Hara has no doubts that Foden will sweep individual honours this season, but worries that at the international level Gareth Southgate is not getting the best out of the talented forward.
“He's the best player in the Premier League right now for me,” he said.
“He’s playing some unbelievable football. When he plays in that number 10 role his talent just shines through and he really comes into his own. He’s so good at those little intricate passes in and around the box and making things happen, he can score inside and outside the box – what a player and what a talent. Pep Guardiola clearly knows how to get the best out of him.
“The biggest worry for me is with England – where do you play him? The idiot Gareth Southgate has brainwashed everyone into thinking we need to play two holding midfielders and we can’t have two numbers 10s, so Foden gets wasted on the right or the left.
"He should just have Declan Rice holding and say to Foden and [Jude] Bellingham, ‘listen lads, go and do your thing’, and we’d have two of the best players in the world in midfield making things happen.
“It won’t happen though and that’s what I’m worried about with Phil Foden, that Gareth Southgate is going to ruin his England career!”
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