Better than Bellingham & Palmer? England legend Paul Gascoigne reveals he asked Three Lions' ‘best player’ for his shirt after recent appearance

Former Newcastle United star Gascoigne was asked who he believes the best player in the current England team is. Previously, Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney named Phil Foden as England's "best player" and it seems Gascoigne agrees with him. This is despite Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham, for instance, starring for Chelsea and Real Madrid respectively.

He told Metro: "I really like Jack Grealish, because of the fact that if he lost the ball a couple of times, he still wants the ball. He doesn’t go hiding. But I watched Phil Foden not long ago. He was s*** hot. He was unbelievable. What a player and that last England game, I couldn’t resist it. I just went into the changing room and asked Foden to give us a shirt. He signed it for my agent’s son. He’s been unbelievable at Man City and is one of the players they rely on to produce. Sometimes that’s not good for him, because he’s such a young kid as well. He’s only young and he’s got kids.

"Looking at the England squad, you’ve got Bellingham, Grealish, Rashford. They’ve got a really strong squad. But Foden, they always say people with left foot in football are always going to be brilliant. But I really like Foden, he’s quality and he’s got a good engine on him."

Despite the praise of Gascoigne, Foden has largely struggled to replicate his form for Manchester City in an England shirt. The 24-year-old underwhelmed during Euro 2024 and this season his form for his club has gone backwards. But his talent and ability is undeniable.

Foden will hope to be picked for Thomas Tuchel's first England squad in early 2025 but before then, his City side travel to Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday.