Graeme Souness says Phil Foden is the ‘best’ midfielder among England’s emerging talent pool

Foden has three caps for the national team, scoring twice

Phil Foden has impressed this season with Man City (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Gareth Southgate will have a tough decision on his hands when picking the squad for the European Championships this summer, particularly in which of the younger attack-minded players to take in his final 23 - but for Graeme Souness, Phil Foden must be at the top of the pile.

The Manchester City youngster has been in irrepressible form of late and is enjoying a good campaign overall, though at 20 he also has others slightly older than him trying to earn international honours in similar roles.

Souness marked out 25-year-old Jack Grealish, James Maddison who is 24 and 22-year-old Mason Mount as individuals hoping for involvement with England - but feels Foden is beyond them all.

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"You see this young fella, England have some top class midfielders coming through but he's at the top of the tree," Souness said on Sky Sports.

"Maddison, Grealish, Mount...I think he's arguably the best."

Looking at the specific areas of Foden's game which make him a stand-out, Souness references the first touch and overall technique of the Man City attacker.

"It's very easy to look at the final shot but the initial take is all in one movement. He's moving the ball so cutely.

"That young man is silky, he's courageous, sees the picture, he's quick. There's so much to enjoy about this young man."

Foden has had a gradual build-up under Pep Guardiola toward becoming a first-team regular, but has seen a significant jump in game time over the last 12 months and is now often involved in City's biggest games.

Playing both in the midfield and attacking line, he has shown a regular eye for goal and has netted nine times in 28 games this season, including one in the recent 4-1 win over Liverpool.