Gareth Southgate set to start Man City and England midfielder Phil Foden at Euro 2020

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Gareth Southgate is likely to start Man City midfielder Phil Foden when England host Germany at Euro 2020 on Tuesday night, according to Sky Sports.

Southgate will make a number of changes from the side that beat the Czech Republic in the final game of the group stage. Foden was left out of the matchday 23 after starting both of the opening fixtures with Croatia and Scotland.

Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell were also omitted after being deemed close contacts of Billy Gilmour when the Scotland midfielder tested positive for Covid-19. Both have since been forced to train alone but could come back into consideration against Germany.

Mount and Foden are serious options for Southgate to start against Joachim Low’s Germany on Tuesday. The England boss will leave a decision on the Chelsea midfielder until the last moment after his week training apart.

As for Foden, the Man City maestro seems set to edge competition from Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho to start. It could mean a return to the front-four that beat Croatia and drew with Scotland before Southgate made precautionary changes.

Foden is yet to score or assist and was taken off after 71 and 63 minutes against Croatia and Scotland. Rashford came on for the Man City talent in the opening game before replacing Harry Kane against the Tartan Army.

England will start Man City ace Foden

England will have had a full week’s rest when they line up to face Germany on Tuesday. Yet Foden will have had 11 days off, and the extra few days would have been welcome after playing 50 games for Man City last season.

And while a lot can change between now and kick off, Southgate will likely start Foden against Germany. The England boss deemed him to be one of his first-choice options in the opening group stage fixtures and only took the 21-year-old out of his plans as a precaution.

Southgate will also be aware Foden offered Man City 16 goals and 10 assists last season. He will be desperate to add goals to the England side against Germany, with Raheem Sterling their top-scorer with two.

Pep Guardiola also lauds Foden for his attacking instincts, even if he is yet to click at Euro 2020. “He is a guy with a special instinct close to goal,” the Man City boss said, via RTL, in January. “Not just with the left foot, but with the right foot.” Which could be key against Germany.