Phil Foden Set To Be Fast Tracked In England Set Up

Right now England have a 'golden generation' but unlike the one of 2002-2006 this one is actually winning trophies. One of the members of that golden generation could be fast tracked in the England set up early next year.

Once upon-a-time England had Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney all at their disposal at the same time, it was quite a base of a team.

_{The talent that would never fully be utilised by England. Image: PA}

The team was known as the 'golden generation' and yet despite the obvious world class talent they had as players, and winning trophies for their club sides, the best they did on the international stage was getting to a World Cup quarter final.

Now the country has a new 'golden generation' but one that everyone is putting far less pressure on and one that has won things. The youth set up in the FA has won the under 20 and under 17 World Cups, the under 20s European Championships and the under 21 Toulon Tournament all this year.

And according to the Daily Mail one of the stars of the under 17 success, Manchester City's Phil Foden, is on the verge of being fast tracked into Aidy Boothroyd's under 21 squad in March.

_{Foden (right) arrives home with Liverpool's Rhian Brewster, who won the Golden Boot award. Image: PA Images.}

First of all a quick celebration over the fact that after this week there isn't another international break until March:

via GIPHY

The report says that midfielder Foden, who won the best player award at the tournament, was considered for the recent under 21 Euro qualifier against Ukraine but Boothroyd decided to leave him to recover from his recent tournament at City.

But in March, for the home game against the same opposition, the Stockport born teenager is likely to be called up with the under 21s also set to have a friendly during the international window.

_{Foden impressed in the summer in a friendly against Manchester United. Image: PA}

Talking about the possibility of call ups for the under 17s, and in particular Foden, Boothroyd said, "We will audit our players in January. All the coaches sit down and go through all the players in all the age groups and we decide who needs to be moved up and who needs to be moved down.

"It might well be a couple from the U17s have earned the right to come with us and they do move up...I like Phil a lot. I think he is a very special player. But I can say that about a number of players in our teams. They are all at different stages and the main thing is we sit down and discuss each properly so we can give them a proper pathway, not just flick a coin."

After his performances in India it's no surprise to see the City youngster being heralded and it's now a matter of how clear the path is for him to become a first teamer at the Etihad in the years ahead.

For now this is a golden generation for England's youth set-up, perhaps in the future that will mean some medals for the senior team. For now it's best to just let them develop...and keep dreaming.

Topics: Manchester City, Phil Foden, Premier League, England

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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