PHIL FODEN hopes his pair of personalised shinpads – sporting a picture of his social-media superstar son Ronnie – never break as he wants to wear them for the rest of his career.
The Manchester City star, 24, has guards under his socks depicting himself and his boy on his shoulders, both sporting club kit, next to an England flag.
Ronnie is only five but already has four million followers on his Instagram account, @officialronniefoden_.
Speaking on FA show Lions’ Den, Foden Snr explained: “Someone made these for me on Instagram.
“They’re my lucky shinpads. I take them everywhere. Hopefully they don’t break because I want to wear them the whole of my career.”
Foden was on the programme alongside team-mate Conor Gallagher, who also revealed his own prized possession which he looks at before each match.
The Chelsea midfielder, 24, explained: “My mum and dad got me a necklace for my 21st a few years ago. It has some engraving on the back and I tend to read it when I go out. (It’s a) bit soppy!
“I used to have personalised shinpads as well but they didn’t feel very nice so I don’t wear them anymore.”
Like the rest of the squad, Gallagher and Foden have been enjoying all the various pastimes at England’s camp in the rolling hills of Blankenhain, including padel, basketball and PlayStation.
But fishing lover Foden has also found the time to get his rod out as well.
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He said: “I’ve had a little bit of time to go fishing, so it’s been nice.
“(I’ve caught) some big ‘uns, yeah! I’ve caught some nice fish.”
The soundtrack to England’s games this summer has regularly been Three Lions fans singing ‘Phil Foden’s on fire’ to the tune of Bruce Springsteen’s legendary track, Dancing in the Dark.
Asked about his ditty, the PFA Player of the Year commented: “It is proper! To have a song about yourself is something you dream of.
“To hear the England fans singing it, it means a lot.”
By Jack Wilshere
GARETH SOUTHGATE should be brave and play Declan Rice as our sole holding midfielder.
But if England manager Southgate doesn’t want to do that — and he probably doesn’t — then he needs to give Rice the chance to play more like he does for Arsenal.
Let’s be absolutely clear here. Rice was so important for us again during that first half against Denmark.
The fact that he had a difficult second 45 minutes showed how much England were struggling.
Rice himself would hold his hands up and say he gave away the ball too often.
But what I took overall from his performance is that he needs more help in the engine room.
Read here how Jack Wilshere would resolve the Declan Rice dilemma.
