Phil Foden started only his second Premier League game this season during Manchester City’s 1-0 win against Southampton.
Foden’s other starts have emerged in the Champions League and the Carabao Cup — with two goals and two assists to his name in all competitions.
Notably, Foden has scored more Champions League goals than David Beckham (17) after opening the scoring for his boyhood club in their 5-0 massacre of Sparta Prague.
Foden has more Champions League goals than Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford put together.
Manchester City will certainly be relying on the Englishman to come good if they intend to win major silverware this season.
In the absence of Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri especially, two players who were especially vital for City during the second half of last season as they won the Premier League, Foden will have to step up and make himself counted yet again.
Pep Guardiola says Man City could “use” Phil Foden’s shooting as a weapon
In both the goals that the 24-year-old has scored this season, the common theme has been him doing so from quite in and around the box.
Last season, the silky midfielder scored six goals from outside the box in the league; a figure no player has reached in the club’s history — according to Squawka.
Pep Guardiola has revealed that Manchester City can put Foden’s incredible shooting to good use against teams sat in a deep block this season.
Guardiola said via BeanymanSports: “When they defend so deep, so deep, it happened, dropping a little bit to get the ball in front of the halfway [line] and using his incredible potential to shoot from the 18-yard box, we have to use it.”
“So, that’s for sure. I prefer Phil [Foden] close to Erling [Haaland] because his sense of goal is unique. But I have to admit that when [he] can drop and shoot, like for example the goal against West Ham to win the Premier League last season, this type of goal or Bernabeu from the 18-yard box.”
“I think he’s a really, really, really good player and we can use it when the opponents defend so, so deep.”
Neil Lennon claimed Foden’s finishing is ever-improving after the number of goals he scored last season.
Manchester City often face low blocks and one way to counter such a situation is by encouraging a player like Foden to go for goal from distance if he has the space and time to shoot.
Izzy Christiansen reveals Foden secret behind his incredible shooting
In April, Izzy Christiansen revealed the secret behind Foden’s brilliant shooting is the fact that he did several lunges in the gym to strengthen his legs as a young player.
The former City attacker would often see the decorated technician at the gym repeatedly doing this exercise.
“After playing at City and being around the academy when Foden was coming through, I was around him a lot in the gym, because we shared the gym with the academy players.”
“There was a sports scientist there who had Foden doing, I don’t know how many, but there was a lot, hundreds of lunges a day, just to strengthen his legs up. I know that sounds really basic, but they put so much emphasis on the physical development of the player.”
The hard work Foden has put in has shone through due to how consistently accurate his shots are.
The treble-winner will be hoping that he can match his tally of 27 goals in all competitions last season.
One way of doing so would be by testing his luck from distance.
