Sir Keir Starmer has backed Phil Foden to fill the No10 position for England at the Euro 2024 tournament.
The Labour leader, himself with his eyes on No10, believes the Manchester City star could be key to England’s success in Germany playing just behind Harry Kane.
England manager Gareth Southgate, who has unveiled his provisional 33-strong squad for Euro 2024, has preferred to play Foden out on the left with Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham in the more central No10 position.
But football fans are divided over who to play in the crucial attacking midfield position.
Sir Keir told The Standard in an exclusive interview: “I quite like the No10 for Phil Foden.
“He’s been one of the outstanding City players this year.
“I’ve always thought he is an under-estimated player so I would like to see more of him and in that role.”
Sir Keir has dragged Labour back to the centre ground after its electoral disaster out on the Left under Jeremy Corbyn.
So, if Southgate gives Foden the No10 shirt, he and Sir Keir could be on a similar path, one in football, the other in politics.
Arsenal fan Sir Keir, who plays weekly five-a-side, saw his club’s hopes of winning the Premier League dashed by Manchester City who beat West Ham 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium on the final day, with Foden scoring twice.
If Foden plays No10, Bellingham could fall deeper back into midfield, with Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon possibly starting up front on the left.
But if Foden gets the nod to play on the left, Bellingham could be No10, with Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo possibly included in midfield.
England’s first game is against Serbia on June 16 in Gelsenkirchen.
Germany is preparing to welcome up to 800,000 British football fans for Euro 2024.
They are being warned by the Foreign Office not to get caught out by the strength of German beer and risk being banned from games.
England’s group also includes Slovenia and Denmark.
If Kane’s team slip up, and finish second in their group and all the other results go in line with world rankings, then they could face Germany at the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, on June 29.
