Phil Foden: Man City prodigy ready to take next step in what could be a wonderful career

Foden finally looks like an established member of City's first-team squad, ready to rotate into the midfield whenever

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden with Sergio Aguero (2020 Pool)

Is this the end of the beginning to a wonderful career? For the first time since his Manchester City debut two-and-a-half years ago, Phil Foden is finally starting to look like an established member of Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad. Even better, among the considerable talents of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Riyad Mahrez, he does not look out of place.

After scoring as a substitute against Arsenal last Wednesday, Foden started against Burnley, scored twice more and had a hand in two other goals. A toothy grin broke out across his face when, after coming off as a substitute and taking his seat in the lower section of the Colin Bell Stand, he learned that he had been named Sky’s man-of-the-match.

He was asked, during the obligatory round of post-match interviews that came with his prize, whether this was his most influential City performance to date. “I would like to think so. It's been one of my best games,” Foden replied. “I’m still learning every day, I’ve still got a long way to go, I’m still young, but I’m just happy when I put performances like that in.”

It is worth comparing Foden to others his age for an idea of the talent that City can call their own. Even before last night, Foden led the way in shot-creating actions per 90 minutes when compared with all the players in Europe’s big five leagues who are his age or younger and who have played as much or more.

That’s more contributions leading to a shot than Vinicius Junior, more than Ansu Fati, more than Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson Odoi. In fact, Foden, Sancho and Hudson-Odoi make up the top three. The comparison is not the most reliable, as Foden’s lack of playing time skews things in his favour, but even in a bigger sample size he could expect to fall among such company.

From Gareth Southgate’s perspective, that must be encouraging. So too must be a hint of Foden receiving more minutes. Southgate recently said that Foden must become a City regular before he can receive any international call-up. “If he can break into Manchester City’s team he will clearly be playing at a very high level and he will be in our squad without a doubt.”

Between now and the end of July, the compact scheduling and changes to number of substitutions allowed may mean Foden gets more minutes, greater opportunities and eventually a place in the England squad for next summer’s European Championships, a tournament that would have passed him by had it been held this summer.

If that is to happen, he will need to play consistently throughout next season too. The departure of Silva should help, giving Foden the space he needs to at least rotate with Guardiola’s other midfielders regularly. That, clearly, is the next step. Not that you would think it from Foden's post-match comments, though.

“I think he should extend his contract, to be honest,” he said of Silva. “How he played today, it's unbelievable. I don't want to think about [Silva leaving] too much, I'm just enjoying playing with him. It's a pleasure to play with him.” But Guardiola knows Silva’s time has come, and he knows who he wants to step into the void.

“It is difficult to find a replacement but we have a young Manchester City fan who every time he plays gives us something unique and special,” the City manager said, referring back to Foden. “In the next decade, 15 years, he will be an outstanding player for us. I don’t have doubts. I saw his behaviour when he doesn’t play. He never complains, never has a bad face.”

Guardiola’s treatment of Foden has prompted debate over the last few years, but he has only ever spoken highly of the youngster’s talent, praised his patient attitude, and done what he thinks is right for a developing talent. That approach is starting to pay off. Foden is coming to the end of the very first stage of his City career and there is much excitement about what comes next.