- Roy Keane returns to the subject of Phil Foden after criticising him last week
- The ITV pundit puts Jude Bellingham forward as an example Foden can follow
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is England’s squad good enough to win the World Cup?
Roy Keane took another swipe at Phil Foden after the Manchester City star was dropped for England match against Latvia.
Foden was criticised by both his international manager, Thomas Tuchel, and ITV pundit Keane for his display on the right wing against Albania at Wembley on Friday.
Tuchel said Foden — and Marcus Rashford on the opposite flank — ‘were not as impactful’ as they normally can be’ during the 2-0 victory.
Keane, as is his wont, took things further in his post-match analysis. When asked if Foden might be more comfortable in the No 10 position, for former Man United captain said: ‘Listen, Foden won’t have that problem coming up about where he will be playing, because he won’t be playing [at all].’
He added: ‘I think he might be lacking in confidence. He’s definitely off it. His club form isn’t great, but we know he’s got that quality. Usually when Foden is at his best you’re sitting there thinking ‘something is going to happen’, but I wasn’t thinking that tonight.’
And, after Foden was omitted from Tuchel’s team against Latvia, Keane was invited back to the subject of Foden’s international form. He was also asked about Chelsea forward Cole Palmer’s recent dip in form.
Phil Foden was criticised for his performance on the right wing against Albania on Friday night
ITV pundit Roy Keane said that Phil Foden didn’t look like creating any magic against Albania
Chelsea and England forward Cole Palmer’s form has dipped over the last couple of months
On the pair, Keane said: ‘The challenge playing international football is you have to come away from what you do at your club.’
Keane’s comments were in direct contrast to his praise of Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid star was England’s best player against Albania and provided the opening goal with a pinpoint pass through to Lewis Myles-Skelly.
Keane singled out Bellingham as someone who could replicate his club form for his country and suggested that Foden and Palmer could learn from his swagger.
‘We saw with his pass for the goal,’ Keane told ITV.
‘With Madrid, he is a brilliant player, done it on the big occasion. A big character, not cocky but confident, he has great belief and everything goes through him.’
Fellow ITV pundit Ian Wright agreed with Keane’s assessment and added: ‘He had a lot of belief.
‘Albania drop deep and he is the one who creatively did a turn for Lewis-Skelly. He is a game changer and can grab the game by the scruff of the neck.’
