MX23RW : Friday, March 29 14:27:55| >> :120:3665:3665:

Gareth Southgate insists Phil Foden drama is dead and buried

Gareth Southgate insists Phil Foden drama is dead and buried
© Reuters
The Manchester City midfielder had been sent home from Iceland for disciplinary reasons.

England manager Gareth Southgate cleared the air with Reykjavik renegade Phil Foden on the first day of camp and is looking forward to seeing what he can produce against Iceland.

Having long been tipped as a future international star, the Manchester City talent was called into the senior set-up for the first time as the Three Lions finally kicked-off their international calendar with September's Nations League matches.

Foden made his senior debut in England's first match of that doubleheader against Iceland along with Manchester United's Mason Greenwood, but the pair were soon sent home after beaching the strict bio bubble in Reykjavik.

Phil Foden and Mason GreenwoodEngland U21 Media Day – St George's Park
England pair Phil Foden, left, and Mason Greenwood were sent home from Iceland (Mike Egerton/PA)

They were left out of October's fixtures as punishment but Foden returned to the fold for this month's tripleheader and, having come off the bench against the Republic of Ireland, is set to feature in the Nations League against Iceland on Wednesday.

"It has been good to have him back this week," the England boss said of the 2017 Under-17 World Cup Golden Ball winner.

"Phil has trained really well this week and it was good to get him into the game against Ireland.

"Given the players in the squad and the way it is emerging and evolved over the week, it will be good to get Phil into the game tomorrow.

"I am sure he has relished the chance to be back with the squad, we know he is a very exciting talent and he is a player who we have a lot of belief in and who Manchester City have a lot of belief in, so this could be a good opportunity for him to show everybody what he can do really."

Foden's third cap will come as the playmaker completes a senior England camp for the first time.

Southgate stressed at this month's squad announcement that there would be "no sort of carryover from what happened" during his previous senior involvement – something he underlined to the 20-year-old at the start of the international meet-up.

"I made sure we chatted on the first day and put that behind us immediately," the Three Lions boss said.

"It was done once we had made the decision on the October squad. That was it. From then on it was always going to be a judgment on football.

"I'm sure for anybody walking back in initially that is going to feel a little bit... especially when you're young but definitely as the week has gone on he has been more relaxed.

"I gave him a bit of a hiding at two touch yesterday which he was probably a little bit upset about but he's in with the group, he's relaxed and that's what's important because to be able to play his football properly that's where everybody needs to be."

ID:422664: cacheID:422664:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6433:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
England manager Gareth Southgate pictured on September 8, 2020
Read Next:
Gareth Southgate empathises with club managers over injury concerns
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!