Foden’s the jewel in my England front three to dazzle them at the Euros

NOT only should Phil Foden go to the Euros with England, he’s an absolute must to start in the first game against Croatia.

And that means Gareth Southgate has to earn the big bucks he’s paid as the national-team manager, because he has an absolute embarrassment of riches up front to pick from.

It’s incredible that so many of these young attacking players have burst on the scene in the past few years... but Foden is the shiniest jewel of the lot.

I really, really rate him as a quality, intelligent footballer.

He’s got a genuine touch of class too and I don’t think many of the other teams at the Euros will have a handle on him.

So if Foden is a certain starter – and I’ll say again, it’s a no-brainer unless injury intervenes – then my old England team-mate Gareth (right) has some very big decisions to make.

Let’s face it, the way England set up, they will play with one striker – and that is obviously Harry Kane.

He’s captain, Golden Boot winner, a proven out-and-out goalscorer, who also provides quality assists to players around him. Again, an absolute must.

So that leaves one other place in the front three. I say front three, because no matter whether England have two centre-halves or three, they will play a three-man forward line.

It’s either 4-3-3 or 3-4-3.

So only one more place. But what a shout to make, because Southgate has some of the best young forwards in the European game to call on.

A year ago, Raheem Sterling would have been a shoo-in for England. And

Marcus Rashford too. Jack Grealish has done enough this season to be a genuine contender. So has Jesse Lingard.

Mason Greenwood is quality, though I think he’s got time on his side and that will make leaving him out easier. Same goes for Bukayo Saka.

I don’t think ANY of them will start the first game – which tells you everything about the quality England have. But Jadon Sancho should.

Sancho has been one of the standout players in the Bundesliga and deserves a run in the team.

Now that doesn’t look a bad front three, does it?

Foden with his guile and courage around the box. Kane a natural goalscorer, yet able to drop deep to

play passes

Starting Phil is a no-brainer... I don’t think many teams will have a handle on him

that the lightning-quick players can feed on. And then Sancho, causing havoc with his running on the ball.

I actually think with all the players he has who can fit wide in a three, it means Southgate will take only two centre-forwards in total – so either Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Ollie Watkins will miss out.

That looks pretty obvious to me. Sterling, Rashford and Greenwood (if he goes) can all play centrally, so Gareth only needs to carry one back-up for Kane.

I reckon that’s why Patrick Bamford didn’t make the long list. I believe he’s

been a bit unlucky – but the fact is the queue to be an England centre forward always starts behind Kane.

So Danny Ings is in the same boat. I think England can go close again this time around. With an incredible generation of young talent up front we must have a chance. And that’s not even mentioning Mason Mount as an attacking midfielder.

Mount looks so good on the eye, but isn’t afraid to put a shift in, and he also has the courage around the box to take responsibility and score goals.

There are questions about the defence, it’s true, because I can’t see Harry Maguire being anywhere near fit and ready when he still had a cast on his leg four days ago.

But England have the talent to dominate possession and score goals.

I don’t see any team that looks head and shoulders above us – so there’s definitely room for optimism.