Stuart Pearce has been talking about Anthony Gordon and Phil Foden.
The two players are rivals as England are set to play at the World Cup finals this summer.
The Newcastle United and Manchester City players, hoping to make the starting eleven.
Stuart Pearce played for both clubs back in the day, but how does he rate their respective chances, of getting Thomas Tuchel’s starting vote?
The former England left-back asked the question by Betway: “England have so many options at No.10 – Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. How many realistically could Thomas Tuchel select, and which would you choose?”
Stuart Pearce replying: “I think Thomas Tuchel has worked out that if you are going to play Harry Kane up front, whose forte isn’t running in behind and running the channel, you need two wingers that can actually go past somebody. So that tells me that you can’t play Phil Foden or Cole Palmer out wide, they’re not that type of player. You’ve got to look at them as central players. The beauty of it is, it’s not like years gone by when it was a 22- or 23-man squad. Now it’s a 26-man squad. You’ve always got a bit of wiggle room to put one or two players in, and that for me might be where the likes of Palmer or Foden all get into the squad. If we’re talking about Foden at this moment in time, I can’t see him playing a big part in the tournament this summer because if you’re still thinking, where is your position? It’s probably the number 10, in this tactical formation. If it’s number 10, I think he’s behind Bellingham and behind Morgan Rogers to start with.”
Stuart Pearce then turning the focus on Anthony Gordon.
Pearce adding: “I also think there was talk about Phil Foden maybe playing as a false 9. But the form of Anthony Gordon playing as a centre forward for Newcastle has really impressed me. I think we’ve got a player there in Gordon that can play as a centre forward and be a better option than the false 9 with Foden, so that puts him further down the pecking order.”
With 17 goals already this season, Anthony Gordon is in great form heading towards the World Cup finals.
As Stuart Pearce says, with Harry Kane not having pace, it makes it even more difficult to then also play others who aren’t quick either.
I think that Anthony Gordon will start at the World Cup finals playing on the left for England.
However, no surprise if we see him played through the middle at times, if for any reason Harry Kane isn’t on the pitch.
The England 1 Uruguay 1 game on Friday night, simply reinforced how few other options Tuchel has at centre-forward. Solanke was really poor and then Calvert-Lewin no better when he came on, especially when failing to score with a free header six yards out when unmarked.
Whilst Phil Foden was lucky to still be walking after last night’s match, a ridiculous challenge on him by Ronald Araujo should have seen a red card, but not even a yellow. Foden tried to carry on but then having to be subbed.