Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has raised doubts over Phil Foden’s current suitability to play in a central area for England.
The 23-year-old, largely deployed out wide by club and country, said in March his aim was to "adapt and become a midfielder".
He has scored three times in 26 caps for the Three Lions and has himself admitted he is yet to fully replicate his Manchester City form for his country.
And while Southgate has no doubt Foden has the ability on the ball to play centrally, the England boss said there are plenty of other skillsets needed to take up that role.
Asked if he could deploy the City star in a midfield three rather than wide in big international games, Southgate said: “Well, he doesn’t for his club, so presumably there’s a reason for that.
“It depends on the level of the game, really. Obviously in the middle of the park everybody wants to talk about them with the ball, but there’s a lot of detail without the ball.
“In games like at the weekend (against Ukraine), you’re playing opponents that are so clever with their passing and movement that you’ve really got to be spot on with pressing angles, your responsibilities.
“If you don’t, then you don’t have the flow of the game, you don’t get the flow of the game.
“You’d have to speak with Pep (Guardiola), the best coach in the world, who plays him from wide.
“He’s always got the freedom to drift if we play him wide and that’s important.”
Foden said during the World Cup in Qatar that he sees himself “playing behind the striker in the future or as one of the 8s or 10s at City”.
Southgate, who has spoken to Guardiola about the England international, pointed to the fact that Foden “doesn’t play there” frequently at club level, while saying he is “very happy” with the player.
“He’s played in a Euros for us, came on in the semi-final of the Euros and had a big impact,” the England boss said ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Scotland at Hampden Park.
“He’s played in a World Cup for us. He’s only 23 years old. He’s got amazing experiences.
“He’s still progressing and learning, but he is a super player for us to have involved.”
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