Phil Foden is still very young and will only be 24 later this month. Yet, he already has six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League to his credit while playing for Manchester City. He also won the Player of the Year award recently, which reaffirms his rise as a world-class player for the Cityzens.
Foden’s Stats This Season Are Very Impressive
Foden has scored 27 goals and registered 11 assists in 53 matches for Manchester City this season. However, the defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup final meant that he failed to increase his trophy-count.
At the moment, he edges Mohamed Salah in terms of having the most lethal left foot in England. His shooting prowess with his left foot has come to the fore this season often enough. He also scored a wonderful goal in City’s last league match against West Ham United with a scorching left-footer.
Pep Guardiola’s decision to switch Foden to a central midfielder’s role from the right flank has allowed the latter to unfold his goal-scoring prowess to full effect. His wonderful hat-trick against Aston Villa showcased his attacking prowess in a great way.
With senior players like Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva by his side and a lethal striker like Erling Haaland in front of him, Foden continued to torment the opposition defenders consistently throughout the season.
Complacency might set in after achieving so much at such a young age, but Foden should try to attain more European glory for his club in the upcoming seasons.
Performing Well for England at Euro 2024 Will Be Important for Foden
Foden will also be a key member in England’s squad for the European Championships in Germany next month. He might not be able to play as the No. 10, as Jude Bellingham is likely to play in that role. He might not start as the right winger either, as Bukayo Saka plays there.
Hence, we might see Foden playing as a left winger in England’s 4-2-3-1. Alternatively, he could also start as a No. 8 should England decide to play with a 4-3-3 formation. Either way, his performance will be critical in deciding the Three Lions’ fate in the tournament. However, was evident from the FA Cup final, the left-winger’s slot is probably Foden’s least favoured attacking position.
His record of having scored only four goals in 33 matches for the English national team does not quite do justice to his talent. While playing for the Cityzens, Foden is surrounded by world-class attacking players as his teammates. The same, probably, is not true while he plays for the national team, although England also has great offensive players these days in their squad.
The focus, therefore, will be on the young man at the Euros this time around. If the English are to end their trophy-drought of 58 years, Foden will have to perform well. It remains to be seen whether he is able to transform his club-form while playing for the national side as well. It will also make or break his status as a genuine world-class player.