Manchester City star Phil Foden has been told he is having his best-ever season after a first World Cup start for England against Wales.
The Lowdown: Foden performs on cue...
The 22-year-old was made to wait for his first start in Qatar by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, despite calls for the City fan favourite to be drafted into the line-up.
Foden's creativity could have been an asset against the USA, but after England's dreary 0-0 draw against their cross-Atlantic rivals, Southgate opted to hand Foden the nod against Wales in their final group game.
The Sky Blues star repaid that faith and put in a brilliant display, helping to guide his nation to top spot in their group. Foden finished the 90 minutes of their 3-0 victory as one of England's highest-rated players and grabbed a goal for his efforts, feeding off a sublime cross from team-mate Harry Kane for their second.
The Latest: Whelan praises Foden...
Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has claimed that the City midfielder is having his best-ever season for club and country off the back of his performances.
The 47-year-old explained: "The Wales game was a perfect opportunity to put Foden in. He is the one player who was going to unlock defences, especially as Wales started to push players forward to try and get a result.
“We’re going to need him in the knockout stage, and he needed a game. Everyone knows the quality he has and he’s shown that with Man City so far this season, he’s having the best season of his career so far.
“No one can question the job that Sterling or Saka have done so far but giving them that rest was exactly what Southgate should have done.”
The Verdict: He must start against Senegal
Next up for England - a crunch round-of-16 tie against African champions Senegal on Sunday night.
Judging by Foden's outing against Wales, where he had a real creative influence in the attacking areas and appeared hungry to prove a point, we believe that he ought to be a sho0-in for England's all-important knockout tie.