Phil Foden has shown maturity to make step up into Manchester City first team, says Kyle Walker

With Kevin De Bruyne facing a lengthy lay-off, Foden could provide cover in Pep Guardiola's midfield

Kyle Walker believes Phil Foden’s maturity proves the teenager is ready to step up and play a role for Manchester City this season.

Foden, one of the brightest prospects to emerge from City’s academy in recent years, was a bit-part presence in last season’s Premier League title-winning side, making five appearances.

The highly-rated 18-year-old nevertheless featured heavily on City’s pre-season tour of the United States and started the Community Shield victory over Chelsea at Wembley.

Pep Guardiola failed to add midfield depth to his squad this summer and this week lost Kevin De Bruyne to a knee injury that may keep the Belgian playmaker out for several months.

Walker, however, believes that Foden has the attitude and level-headedness to provide a first-team-ready option and plug any gaps in City’s midfield.

“Phil’s got great attitude, a great player, and more importantly, I’ve said before, he’s a great lad. He wants to learn, he’s keen to listen,” Walker said.

“I’ve met a lot of young players throughout my career now who’ve kind of got a chip on their shoulder but he’s definitely not one of them.

Foden made five league appearances for City last season (Getty)

“He’s one of those who wants to learn and I think he shows that in his performances – he’s keen, he’s energetic, he’s keeping people on their toes really.”

Despite his limited playing time last year, Foden received a Premier League winners’ medal, to add to his memento from winning the 2017 Under-17 World Cup with England.

Walker believes Foden, who also tasted EFL Cup success with City last season, will not let these early achievements in his career go to his head.

“Obviously Phil has been very fortunate in his first season around the squad to pick up a Premier League medal. Not many kids can say that they’ve done that.

“But he’s not rested on that. He could have come back from the summer, not really trained hard, gone and partied or whatever – which young kids do nowadays but he’s not done that.

Walker added: “I don’t think you have to put your arm around him because he’s not that type of person.

“But I feel if he was getting out of hand or getting a bit too big for his boots, as they say, Vinnie [Kompany, City’s captain] would be the first one to step in and say ‘Come on Phil, that’s not you. Just keep your head down and keep working.’”

Kyle Walker was speaking at the world premiere of All or Nothing: Manchester City, available on Amazon Prime Video from Friday.