Phil Foden has backed himself to add goals and assists to Gareth Southgate’s England side in the build-up to Euro 2024.
The Manchester City forward collected his 30th cap in Friday’s drab 2-0 win over Malta as England all-but secured their place as top seeds for next summer’s finals.
It was Foden’s cross that Malta defender Enrico Pepe inadvertently diverted past his own goalkeeper to open the scoring as England toiled at Wembley.
Harry Kane doubled the lead in the second half, finishing off a flowing team move in which Foden was an integral part.
The 23-year-old has scored just four goals since making his debut in 2020 and a place in Southgate’s starting XI is still not guaranteed, with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka often preferred on the right side of the attack.
“I always want more for myself, I think I can add goals to this team – and assists,” Foden told beIN Sports.
“I was involved in both of the goals (against Malta), maybe we weren’t at our best but we got the job done in the end and that’s the most important thing.
I always want more for myself, I think I can add goals to this team and assists— Phil Foden
“I’m enjoying my football a lot at the moment, I’m expressing myself, I’m playing really well. So yeah, I need to keep that up, keep pushing myself to score more and get assists.”
With Foden and Saka competing for a place on the right, 62-goal skipper Kane leading the line and the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish also pushing to start games, Southgate has an embarrassment of riches in attacking positions.
The fact Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling has failed to get back into the squad since the World Cup in Qatar only proves how deep the options are for the national team – although his Blues team-mate Cole Palmer is now involved.
The 21-year-old joined Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer, where Foden had seen what he could offer at close quarters.
“He’s so relaxed on the pitch,” Foden said of Palmer.
“He looks like he’s been there for years and he’s such a young lad with tremendous quality and is someone I know really well.
“I tried to help him as much as I could at City when he was coming up and he is at Chelsea now and doing really well so I’m delighted for him to get his debut.
“It just shows that if you work hard through the academy, it comes through so I’m really delighted for him.”
