Southgate promises Phil Foden has still got a ‘big part’ to play

Gareth Southgate addressed Phil Foden’s lack of minutes in the World Cup by claiming that the Manchester City attacker is going to “play a big part” in England’s career.

Foden only featured in the final 20 minutes of England’s first match against Iran which ended 6-2 and was an unused sub against USA despite many believing him to start ahead of Mount, which drew heavy criticism from the likes of Gary Neville who was baffled by “generational talent” Foden being left unused on the bench.

"We love Phil, he's a super player,"

Southgate told BBC Sport.

"He's going to play a big part in this tournament for us.

"Phil's mentality to training and the way he's approaching everything is excellent."

The 22-year-old

has been directly involved in 11 goals (8 goals and 3 assists) for Manchester City this season. Southgate believes that it is Foden’s versatility that makes him stand out as a player, saying:

"There are different possibilities. He can play on either flank and can play as a false nine if we chose to do that.

"He can play off a striker, although he doesn't do that as much at club level so that's maybe applicable to certain games or certain moments.”

He added.

"He's a very flexible player in terms of the attributes he has and where he can have an impact. He's a goal threat, which is also very important."

will qualify to the last-16 round barring a 4-goal loss to fellow British side Wales with Southgate cautioning his side to focus on this

“local derby”.

"We recognise this is a game with a lot of focus because it's a local derby, but we're England – everyone wants to beat us.”

Southgate said.

"There are high expectations every time we're on the pitch. We've got to focus on playing as well as we can while showing the composure and ruthlessness needed to win."

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