Foden must do more than flicker to earn regular starting place

Manchester City playmaker's patchy international form is a source of frustration and now is the time for him to step up

- Jacob Steinberg

Phil Foden remains England's enigma. The Manchester City attacker has often been inspired for his club and insipid for his country. He was the best offensive player in the Premier League last season, scoring 27 goals in all competitions, but he flattered to deceive during England's baffling run to the final of Euro 2024.

A solitary dazzling performance in the semi-final victory over the Netherlands merely heightened the frustration. Playing as an inside-forward in Gareth Southgate's rejigged 3-4-2-1, Foden was at his bewitching best. He drifted into pockets and ran at defenders, teasing them with his close control and sharp one-twos. He hit the woodwork with a wondrous shot from long range. He had an effort hacked off the line.

Hopes of that night in Dortmund finally sparking Foden's England career into life proved a deception. He produced little in the final against Spain and has not been a regular presence since Southgate's departure. He withdrew from the September and November camps because of injury and featured in two out of six games during Lee Carsley's caretaker stint. In one of them, the dreadful 2-1 home loss to Greece in the Nations League, he suffered because of Carsley's muddled attempt to use all the playmakers and was taken off.