Pep Guardiola has backed Manchester City youngster Phil Foden to prosper for club and country after helping England Under-17s win the World Cup.
Foden scored twice as the Young Lions came back from two goals down to beat Spain 5-2 in the final in Kolkata on Saturday.
The triumph in India caps off a summer of success for England's youth teams, with the Under-20s also winning their World Cup and the Under-19s claiming the European championship.
"What position did [Foden] play? Because when he comes back I am going to put him in this position," Guardiola joked to Sky Sports News after City won 3-2 at West Bromwich Albion.
"It is so important for Manchester City, for him, for everybody, that he played at a high, high level in that competition. We cannot forget that he played at a World Cup, so England will be world champions at that age.
"When that guy grows and plays in a World Cup in the future, he has lived that situation before and knows what he has to do. That is [good] for English football.
"To the manager, all the staff and all the players; a big, big congratulations because they need that. The U21s, the first team achieved the last rounds once and, when that happens, English football will have a step they need."
England have also won the Toulon Tournament for the second year in a row and reached the semi-finals of the Under-21 European Championships this summer.
Giuseppe Labellarte
