The England national team are enduring their most difficult moment in eight years, but Manchester City's Phil Foden could well turn the situation to his advantage.
On Friday, England put in another pedestrian and uninspiring performance as they fell 1-0 to Italy in Milan, a result that extended their winless run to five matches and condemned them to relegation from the top tier of the UEFA Nations League. Perhaps most damning is the fact that Gareth Southgate's side have not scored a goal from open play in any of their past five outings.
Foden only featured in the two most recent of those games; were it not for injury, perhaps he would have made a difference in England's first three Nations League games back in June. On the face of it, the 22-year-old — arguably the most exciting young English talent of a generation — did little to influence proceedings during England's latest setback.
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With England unable to play out of Italy's press, outnumbered in midfield and with the wing-backs nullified by their counterparts, Foden and former City teammate Raheem Sterling were forced to drop deep to collect passes from their defenders. It was then up to them to turn and try and make something happen with little support.
England were ineffective in attack until later in the match, when Southgate switched to a 4-2-3-1 system that gave his attackers more support and options.
It was a frustrating situation for Foden; he didn't necessarily do much wrong, rather the system and Italy's proactive approach meant he could little else than drop deep, receive the ball and look for options that just weren't really there.
However, what the situation did allow Foden to do was to support Pep Guardiola's recent claims that when the time comes, the youngster will be ready to evolve his role at City.
Earlier this month Guardiola said that Foden — who came up through the club's youth ranks as an attacking midfielder rather than a wide player — is capable of playing as a No.8 in his team if needed to. Right now, though, the Blues have Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan filling those positions, and they are doing so extremely well.
Foden has now outgrown the idea from Guardiola that he didn't quite have the 'pausa' — the ability to put his foot on the ball and dictate the speed of games — to play in midfield for City. For England, even when starting on the wing, he has shown he can drop deep and dictate the play when needed.
With just one match remaining before England kick-off their World Cup campaign against Iran on 21st November, England's hopes of reaching a second consecutive major tournament final don't look too great. Despite the promising signs showed by 19-year-old Jude Bellingham, the Three Lions look like they lack an experienced creative midfielder to link defence with attack.
Whether he he is deployed on the wing or starts in a deeper No.8t position, Foden can further prove Guardiola right that when one of Gundogan, De Bruyne or Bernardo comes to leave City, their replacement will already be in the building.
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