‘I don’t understand’ says Man Utd icon Rio Ferdinand as he slams Gareth Southgate’s use of ‘heartbeat’ of England team

RIO FERDINAND has slammed Gareth Southgate’s use of Phil Foden, admitting he “doesn’t understand” the Manchester City star’s role for England.

Foden, 23, has been one of the league’s best players this season with 11 goals and seven assists in 28 outings.

Rio Ferdinand has urged Gareth Southgate to put Phil Foden in central midfieldGetty

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Ferdinand admits he’s struggling to understand Foden’s current England role[/caption]

Many feel the playmaker will be crucial to any international success after helping City win five titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League.

But despite his incredible club form, Foden’s role with England remains unclear after 32 caps.

The ace insists his preferred position is through the middle, allowing him to dictate play while roaming through the channels.

Yet his versatility saw him end up on the right wing during Saturday’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Brazil at Wembley.

Foden is unlikely to even get that position at the Euros, with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka usually the preferred choice there.

And it means there is a question mark over his place in the side, with Southgate traditionally preferring a box-to-box No8 alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in midfield.

However, Man United legend Ferdinand is adamant that Foden must be played through the middle.

He has urged Southgate to be brave and unleash one of his best players in a free role.

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Ferdinand admits Foden’s current role has left him and other England fans confused.

And he believes Southgate only has to look at Pep Guardiola’s tactics to understand how Foden can flourish for his country.

Ferdinand told Vibe with Five: “If he was playing centrally for England, that would be the strongest part of that team. Him playing alongside someone like Bellingham, they would find a way to make that work – them and Declan Rice.

“Putting him out on the left, on his own, isolated half the time – or the right – he’s not going to get into the feel of the game. What we’ve been seeing this year, at City, has been him in central areas where he’s involved in the heartbeat of the game constantly.

“I’m just thinking as a manager, if you’re seeing that, how does that not translate to your England team? I don’t understand.

“Gareth Southgate said once that he isn’t playing central for his club so he can’t pick him. But he’s played central for his club this season and been arguably one of the best players in the league.

“Foden, in the central areas, for the best team in Europe, this season, has been playing centrally and been the guy they’ve looked to for inspirational moments to get them results and unlock things.

“I like Conor Gallagher, I think he’s got a place in that squad right now, but I think that Phil Foden – just on performance only, forget about what you think of him as a talent – why’s he not playing in there?

“If Gareth has been to those games and seen the way Phil Foden has played in central areas, how is he not thinking that he just has to get him in the team and play him in there [centrally].

“Because the kid is doing it at the best team in Europe. Phil Foden is a player that can play left, can play right, can play centre, he’ll adapt, but only to a certain level that the team will allow him to in the right position.”