PHIL FODEN has left the England camp for the birth of his third child.
The Manchester City star, 24, started the Three Lions’ drab goalless draw with Slovenia on Tuesday night.
But he has now left the camp to fly back to the UK.
The FA have confirmed he is returning to Britain for a “pressing family matter”.
He is expected to return to the camp before England‘s last-16 game on Sunday where they will face either Holland or the runners-up from Group E.
Premier League Player of the Year Foden already has two children with 22-year-old girlfriend Rebecca Cooke – a son Ronnie, 5, and daughter True, 2.
The couple met at school and are childhood sweethearts.
Foden, who has 37 caps for his country, started all three of England’s Group C matches against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia.
He has struggled playing off the left-hand side, with many fans calling for him to move into the No10 position behind Harry Kane.
It is the second successive tournament an England player has been forced to fly home for a personal matter.
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Raheem Sterling left the camp at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after his home was burgled.
He later returned to the squad and came off the bench in the 2-1 defeat to France.
England boss Gareth Southgate is receiving huge backlash following another disappointing display on Tuesday evening.
He made just one change to his starting line-up from the opening two matches, bringing Conor Gallagher in for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Gallagher was then hauled off at half-time for Kobbie Mainoo against Slovenia.
No other changes were made until the 71st minute, before Cole Palmer, Alexander-Arnold and Anthony Gordon were all given cameos.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola joked back in April that Foden expecting another child could raise his level of performance on the pitch.
The Spanish coach said: “I would love him to go in sixth gear in every single action but afterwards you are less precise, you lose the ball all the time and that is not effective.
“You have to reduce the time so you know the moments when you have to be more aggressive and calm.
“But it’s a question of time. He can improve a lot and has improved a lot from the beginning of the season and from the previous seasons.
“Maybe with the third kid that is coming for his family, that will help him.”
KOBBIE MAINOO was always my preference to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s midfield, writes Jack Wilshere.
I think he showed why in the second half against Slovenia.
But I still feel that it was harsh on Conor Gallagher that he was taken off at half time.
Firstly because it was probably our best half of the tournament.
And secondly, because it didn’t feel like a Gareth Southgate thing to do.
It will knock Gallagher’s confidence for sure.
He will have thought that this was his chance, but he only gets a half.
Having said that, despite the disappointing result, the second half was better and Mainoo proved he is the man – or boy – to play there in future.
Read Jack Wilshere’s post-match verdict in full.
Or check out all of Jack’s Euro 2024 columns.
