Considering Manchester City have had key players missing at the start of the season, they have fared impressively so far.
Kevin De Bruyne’s return from injury is scheduled to be either when City go head-to-head against Fulham or after the international break.
The Belgian international has started four out of six games in the Premier League so far.
In September, Pep Guardiola revealed Nathan Ake’s injury has ruled him out until after the international break after he was forced off due to picking up a knock during the Netherlands’ 2-2 draw against Germany.
Similarly, Phil Foden has also had an unfortunate start to the season.
Gary Lineker labelled Foden as “remarkable” as he was in genuinely unstoppable form during the previous campaign.
Guardiola stresses how crucial Man City star is ahead of Champions League clash
The City poster-boy would have ideally liked to start the campaign reminding the world off the back of winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award last season.
However, the £225,000-a-week man’s start to the campaign has been a stop-start one.
The Englishman came off the bench in Manchester City’s 2-0 win against Chelsea in their first game of the season.
But soon after, Pep Guardiola revealed that Foden will return to action after the international break.
Since the resumption of club football, the six-time Premier League winner has only started against Watford in the Carabao Cup — coming off the bench against Inter Milan, Arsenal and Newcastle United while remaining an unused substitute against Brentford.
Steve Nicol questioned Pep Guardiola after his decision not to start the decorated technician during City’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle.
Ahead of Manchester City’s upcoming contest against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, Pep Guardiola was asked: “Hey Pep [Guardiola], Phil had a very good season for you last season, Phil Foden. What does he have to do to kind of hit those high levels again because it’s been a bit of a stop-start [season] for him with illness?”
Guardiola replied via HaytersTV: “Maybe I can have some doubts in many things but the Phil that is going to be back will be back as much…he feels good. He will be back.”
“I think, 30 minutes played at St. James’ Park, I felt already something that I like it that I didn’t see for example against Watford.”
“We cannot forget after European [Championship], it has been two months, month and a half or maybe more without training, with the problems he had, a little bit with the niggles and some problems in his health and now he’s a little bit smiling and a little bit in his rhythm.”
Pep Guardiola went on to stress how crucial Foden is to his Manchester City side as well.
“So, we cannot forget, what we have done so far without him, the best player of the Premier League last season. So, we need him, wow, he’s an important, important player for us but I don’t have any doubts.”
“The way he loves to play football and the way he’s training, his passion, he’s going to be back and he’s going to help us since he landed in the first-team of Man City.”
Phil Foden should start against Slovan Bratislava
Considering Foden seems fit and ready to start, Pep Guardiola should name him in the team sheet against Slovan Bratislava from the very off.
Even if the Manchester City midfielder does not seem at his absolute best, giving him game time is the only way to ensure he returns to his sharpest self.
As Pep Guardiola stated, Foden’s importance to his side remains sky-high and ideally, he would like to start the dynamic playmaker against Fulham on Saturday.
But for that to be the case, the Stockport-born attacker will have a sense of rhythm heading into Manchester City’s upcoming league game.
Only time will tell whether Foden will return to the fold.
Ideally, the silky goalscorer starts on Tuesday, has a promising outing and heads into the game against Fulham full of confidence.
