Manchester City are into the fourth round of the FA Cup after a convincing 5-0 win over Huddersfield Town today at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side cruised to victory today over the Terriers, and City fans were delighted to see Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku both return from injury.
Huddersfield made a bright start but the deadlock was broken midway through the first-half with Phil Foden lashing in from a tight angle.
Julian Alvarez added a second, before Oscar Bobb forced an own goal in the second-half.
The brilliant Phil Foden added his second and City’s fourth, before substitute Doku capped off a ruthless display – and during the game, Leon Osman was heaping praise on Foden…
Leon Osman lauds Phil Foden as star shines bright again for Manchester City in win over Huddersfield
Today, Foden once again lined up as a number 10, operating just behind Julian Alvarez up top.
Alvarez was playing as a striker again with Erling Haaland still not yet fit to play.
Foden was quiet in the opening stages but came to life after his first goal, and was then pulling the strings throughout for the hosts.
£225,000-a-week star Foden was brilliant picking the ball up between the lines, and played some fantastic long balls out to Jack Grealish and Sergio Gomez on the left side.
He took his goals really well and he has certainly furthered his case to remain playing where he is, despite the return of De Bruyne.
Leon Osman was commentating on the game for BBC Sport, and he couldn’t hide how impressed he was throughout.
He said of Foden just before half-time: “I do like watching Foden in that central position, that number 10 role. We see him so often play in the wide areas. Guardiola’s now playing him just off the striker and I think we’re seeing the best of him in that position.
“It’s frightening isn’t it (played nearly 250 games for City already). It shows you the quality of the player that he is. I still think he’s got room to get better.”
Osman later described Foden’s second goal as ‘outstanding’ and then proceeded to say ‘he has some player on his hands does Pep Guardiola’, and ultimately named Foden man of the match.
Foden is unreal
This was another fantastic, mature performance from Foden who is absolutely thriving in a central role.
The 23-year-old is great out wide, but arguably he is much more effective in the middle as there are more options available to him when it comes to playing passes. More often than not, he will execute the pass he wants thanks to his brilliant vision.
Pep Guardiola has hinted that he will use De Bruyne and Foden together in the middle and that is a seriously exciting prospect for City fans.
It would be something of a travesty to see Foden move back out wide amid this brilliant run of form, so hopefully Pep does indeed keep him in the middle.
