Manchester City fans have been unable to watch reigning Premier League Player of the Season Phil Foden for a couple of weeks now.
The attacking midfielder last featured for Manchester City in the opening game against Chelsea, in which he came on at half-time to replace the injured Savinho.
He was not involved against Ipswich Town the following weekend, with Pep Guardiola informing supporters that he was ill.
On Saturday against West Ham, there was still no sign of Foden, with the manager saying that he ‘hopefully’ not be out of action for too long. Pep said that he did not feel good after his 45 minutes against Chelsea.
After the 3-1 win over West Ham United, Pep dropped another update on £225,000-a-week star Foden.
Man City star Phil Foden may not join up with the England squad amid illness
It is set to be a slow start to the 2024/25 season for Foden.
The only reason he played against Chelsea was because of the injury to Savinho, and he may not have featured at all had the Brazilian stayed on.
Because Foden had returned late to City after being given an extended break following his exertions at Euro 2024. Kyle Walker and John Stones were also given longer breaks.
Foden is now set to come back after the international break, and he will seek to build his match sharpness.
After the game with West Ham, Pep suggested that Foden actually may not be well enough to join up with the England squad.
He said (via BBC Sport): “I don’t think so right now.
“I think he will not go but I don’t know. He doesn’t feel well. But national teams, they decide.”
City need Foden rested up and ready to return
Seemingly Foden – who has been talked up as a centre-forward for City by Pep in the event Erling Haaland cannot play – is still a little bit off it at the moment and so, it will be good for him not to join up with the England squad.
The specifics of Foden’s illness have not been disclosed. But it is important that he completely rests up so that he is ready to go again for City after the international break.
Foden missing these two England games with the Republic of Ireland and Finland is actually fairly handy for City. Because he played a huge amount of football last season and obviously featured heavily at the Euros.
This is a chance now for him to properly rest up, and be ready to hit the ground running after the international break, with a potentially tricky game against Brentford coming up
