Tim Sherwood compares Manchester City star Phil Foden to Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish

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Tim Sherwood has told Optus Sport’s The Analysis Show that he believes Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish offers more physicality than Manchester City’s Phil Foden – when comparing the two England internationals.

Foden, 20, scored and laid on an assist durign Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday – taking his goal involvement to 16 for the season. He now has 10 goals, while also laying on six assists for Pep Guardiola’s side.

The England ace is on fire right now, as is Jack Grealish – who is a transfer target for Manchester City, according to The Independent. Grealish, 25, has had a hand in 18 goals during 21 Premier League outings for Villa – scoring six and creating 12.

Ex-Villa manager Sherwood, who brought Grealish into the Villa side, compared both Foden and Grealish. He believes Grealish has a slight advantage over Foden due to his increased physicality at 6ft 1in.

“I think him and Grealish are different,” Sherwood said. “They can both dribble, both take it to the opposition, the heart of the defence. They both have an eye for a pass. Jack takes more knocks, wins a lot more free-kicks.

“He holds the ball up a little bit better than Phil because of his physicality, at 6ft 1in whereas Phil is like 5ft nothing. What a great job Gareth Southgate has on his hands, to find a place for both players in his England side.”

TBR’s view – Which one is better? Which one starts for England?

Grealish, as Sherwood says, is probably the more all-round player but Grealish has the advantage of being five years older – and more than 100 appearances ahead of Foden. Foden made his 102nd outing on Sunday.

Grealish has 208 to his name in Villa colours, while also playing 39 times for Notts County. Certainly, Villa’s skipper has 12 assists in 21 Premier League outings and that is sublime. He will start ahead of Foden at Euro 2021.

But in a few years, Foden will certainly be first choice for Manchester City and Southgate. The chances are that Grealish and Foden could team up at club level, as well as with England in years to come, too.