Mark Lawrenson picks his Premier League player of the year — and it's not Cole Palmer or Erling Haaland
Mark Lawrenson picks his Premier League player of the year — and it's not Cole Palmer or Erling Haaland
Add Mark Lawrenson to the list of people who believe Phil Foden should be named the Premier League player of the year.
The longtime former Liverpool defender joins a growing chorus of pundits and ex-players who back Foden to claim the honour, including City boss Pep Guardiola.
Foden has set a new personal high for goals in a season and has become a key part of Guardiola's attack as City head toward a fourth straight Premier League title.
For Lawrenson, it's an easy choice. Speaking to Paddy Power, Lawrenson urged England manager Gareth Southgate to use Foden in a similar manner to Guardiola and praised the 23-year-old for reaching the level of his star teammates.
“I think Phil Foden should win the PFA Player of the Year this year," Lawrenson said. "Ollie Watkins has done extremely well, as has Cole Palmer – but Foden is on a different level.
“What will be really interesting is what happens with Foden and England – he's got to play and he’s got to play in the same position that he does for Manchester City, you can’t just stick him somewhere else.
"He’s been breathtaking – he's right up there now with Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland. He’s a local lad, which is always good, and he’s taken a step up this season.”
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