Wobbling Phil Foden must be given the chance to set the tone for England, writes SAMI MOKBEL… as the Three Lions attack fails to click once again in a dire 0-0 draw against Slovenia

“You can’t light a fire without a spark,” the English fans here in Cologne screamed to the tune of Bruce Springsteen’s classic Dancing In The Dark while expressing their appreciation of Phil Foden’s mercurial talents.

This is the chant that has taken Euro 2024 by storm. The problem is that Foden hasn’t really succeeded here in Germany.

Another Springsteen song: Darkness On The Edge Of Town, would be more apt to describe his impact thus far.

After three matches, we are still waiting for him to completely ignite, even if Tuesday evening he finally offered some rays of encouragement.

He scored Bukayo Saka’s disallowed goal in the first half after going narrowly offside as his influence and impact were far greater than in the previous two matches.

He has shone at times in life, but is still not at his best on the left wing.

Foden set up Saka after a nice team move, but was just offside in the build-up

Gareth Southgate must seriously consider giving Foden a central role

Foden was making things happen in the way we are all accustomed to. Not yet at the level he should have been, but his performance here has definitely improved.

We hold Foden to a higher standard than the rest of this England team.

We know what he is capable of. Foden, the Premier League and Football Writers Association player of the year, is unlikely to be on the periphery of this tournament. He should be in the spotlight. Center stage.

He is not relegated to the left, but simply moved to the center of the field when tactical nuances allow.

Move him into England’s central attacking berth, into the area where Foden was ‘born to run’.

The solution seems pretty clear: move Jude Bellingham to central midfield alongside Declan Rice and release Foden at No.10 because the boy is too good to be on the ‘edge of town’.

Foden’s best work here against the stubborn Slovenes was when he gained clearance to move inside.

His mere presence on the pitch creates space for others as opposing defenders constantly double-team him.

Yet for some reason Southgate seems reluctant to bring him in. Even when the decision was made to replace Conor Gallagher at half-time, the Chelsea midfielder was replaced by rookie Kobbie Mainoo.

The obvious solution to England’s problems appears to be to push Jude Bellingham (left) deeper, with Foden becoming the number 10.

Conor Gallagher failed his audition to play central midfield for the rest of the tournament as he was sent off at half-time.

The nation is calling for Foden to become England’s go-between. It seems Southgate isn’t entirely convinced.

Ahead of the knockout stages, Southgate’s biggest dilemma is how to unlock the best version of Foden.

Indeed, with the next general election approaching, it is perhaps ironic that the English left is once again under scrutiny.

The fact that Kieran Trippier, who plays at left-back, is naturally right-footed does not lend itself to Foden receiving the ball conventionally on England’s left.

There have even been calls for Anthony Gordon to start ahead of Foden here at the Euros. There is logic to this idea, Gordon is naturally left-footed and has a relationship with Newcastle’s Trippier.

But not having Foden in this team is illogical. Southgate must find a way to play to his strengths.

There are some extenuating circumstances why Foden hasn’t reached the heights we hoped for.

Kieran Trippier (right), being naturally right-footed, meant England had no width on the left

Luke Shaw could have made the difference but he is still sidelined while recovering from injury, and England must find another solution

For starters, he doesn’t have Erling Haaland’s blistering pace to strike with his deft but deadly balls.

Kevin De Bruyne or Bernardo Silva do not find it easily. He doesn’t have the power of Josko Gvardiol to reassure him behind him.

Who knows, if England had had an in-form Luke Shaw available here in Germany, the England left side wouldn’t have looked as restricted as it has so far.

But Shaw doesn’t seem to be playing a big role in this tournament, so Southgate needs an alternative solution to why his team’s left side isn’t performing as it should.

But whatever issues England need to resolve here ahead of the knockout stages, Foden must be part of the answer.