Paul Scholes names the ONE England player who possesses the same ability as Rodri and Toni Kroos as he backs midfielder to get the best out of Phil Foden and unlock Gareth Southgate's attack

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Paul Scholes believes that the inclusion of Kobbie Mainoo could solve a multitude of issues for England at Euro 2024. 

The Three Lions head into their final group game on Tuesday against Slovenia with qualification for the knockout stages all but secured, but serious questions remaining of the squad. 

Reports on Monday indicate that Southgate is set to drop Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold in favour of Chelsea's Conor Gallagher as he seeks to give his side more control in the centre of the pitch. 

But Scholes, who was famously shunted out to the left-wing during his final major tournament with England in 2004, reckons that picking Mainoo could be the answer. And he anticipated his impact on the national team to be similar to that of Toni Kroos for Germany and Rodri for Spain.

'I think [Phil Foden] can play on the left-hand side, he's done that for Manchester City loads of times.' Scholes told TNT Sports. 

Kobbie Mainoo came on as a late substitute in England's Euro 2024 against Serbia last Sunday

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes believes the teenager could solve a multitude of problems for England

Scholes backed the Red Devils midfielder to have a similar impact to that of Rodri (left) and Toni Kroos (right) for their respective national sides

'It's just having control of the ball in the middle of the pitch. If you don'r have control in the middle of the pitch then he can't go wondering inside where he is most dangerous.

'I'm sure that is what the plan is, to get Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold to control the game and then you can virtually do what you want then going forward. 

'Phil Foden can pop up anywhere he wants to on a football pitch and he'll be a threat. If Kobbie Mainoo came in, all of a sudden you have control. You have a player who makes your team play football. 

'Sometimes it takes just one player to be able to do that. You think of Toni Kroos with Germany. He just makes them play football, he makes Real Madrid play football. 

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'Rodri for Man City and Spain, he makes your team play football and I think Mainoo has got the ability to do that. And all of a sudden that frees up Jude Bellingham, who's not worried he has to come back every time and try and help with the build up. 

'Foden would be exactly the same. I just think that one change could make a hell of difference to this team. They're going to get better, they'll win tomorrow and history tells you they do get better as the tournament goes on. 

'Fingers crossed it happens because it's a little bit worrying at the minute but with a good performance tomorrow, that'll all be put to bed.'

According to The Athletic, Gallagher is set to replace Alexander-Arnold - who plays at right-back for the Reds - for the game against Slovenia. 

Southgate and assistant manager Steve Holland are believed to have worked with Alexander-Arnold over a number of months to prepare him for his unfamiliar role but his displays alongside Declan Rice divided opinion among supporters and pundits.

Southgate had openly taken aim at the lack of balance in his side after the limp stalemate with Denmark and rued the lack of a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips - a comment Gary Lineker believes was 'insulting' to his players.

Thrusting Alexander-Arnold into new territory, Southgate, who withdrew the full back after 54 minutes on Thursday, said the tactical gamble was an 'experiment'.

Phil Foden has come in for criticism for his performances in England's first two games of the tournament

Trent Alexander-Arnold started the first two matches but is set to be dropped against Slovenia

'I wanted to get Conor on; we needed some energy and to press better,' Southgate admitted post-match. 'He's (Alexander-Arnold) had some moments where he's delivered what we thought he would. We know it's an experiment.

'We know we don't have a natural replacement for Kalvin Philips. We're trying different things and at the moment we're not flowing as we'd like.'

A win for England against Slovenia would guarantee top spot in the group, while failure to secure three points could see the Three Lions book a date with Germany in the last 16.