Manchester City have been handed an ‘important’ boost at the perfect time in the Premier League title race, according to Phil Foden.
With the winter break out of the way and no international break until late March, the business end of the season will begin to heat up as the biggest sides duke it out for top spot.
City are in the best form having won their last five league matches but they are still just in second place. Liverpool lead the way with a two-point advantage, while City and Arsenal sit behind them on 49 points each.
Aston Villa aren’t far off on 46 points but it’s expected to be a three-horse race. Luckily for City they have received a double boost in the form of two returning stars to give them an advantage over their rivals.
Phil Foden names Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland as City’s two most important players
City have had to play on without Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland for significant chunks of the season but both of them are fully fit again.
Foden thinks it’s crucial for City’s season aspirations that the phenomenal pair are available. “It’s important for him and Kev [De Bruyne] to be back,” he told BBC Sport after Monday’s win at Brentford.
“They’re probably our most important players. We have to take it game by game and not get too far ahead of ourselves. Liverpool and Arsenal are pushing us.”
The importance of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland
The title race is shaping up to be one of the most closely contested in years and Arsenal drove City very close last term. All the more reason why De Bruyne and Haaland are needed so much.
The brilliant Belgian has only been back for three matches yet he already has a goal and two assists to his name. De Bruyne returned from his last serious injury in 2019 like a man determined to make up for lost time and he hasn’t lost that fire after coming back from a serious hamstring tear.
Haaland hadn’t been ruled out for nearly as long as his teammate but his absence was still felt. Though he looked rusty against Brentford he was still able to pick up a nice assist for Foden’s third.
Now they’re back fit and playing together for the first time in months, City could be about to blow the competition away.
