'He can do something unique' - Phil Foden's return to form explained by Pep Guardiola as Man City star looks to bounce back from quiet season

Foden put Manchester United to the sword in the derby, teed up Erling Haaland to strike first against Napoli in Europe, and once again stole the show in midweek with a goal and assist. Against Huddersfield, it took just 18 minutes for Foden to stamp his authority. A neat lay-off from teenage debutant Divine Mukasa found the midfielder lurking at the edge of the box. One swing of the boot later, and the ball was buried in the bottom corner. As if that wasn’t enough, Foden turned provider, slipping in Savinho to round off the win and secure man-of-the-match honours.

The turnaround is striking. Over his last four matches, Foden has chalked up two goals and two assists, a stark contrast to the barren run of just a single assist across his final 18 domestic outings of the previous campaign. With fitness issues finally behind him, the midfielder looks sharper, quicker, and more decisive. Guardiola insists it’s not only about his physical condition but also about how City are deploying him.

"Close to the box I think he plays in the pockets perfectly," Guardiola said. "When he plays a little bit free and close to the box, he can do something that is unique, we know that. When Phil plays in that position behind the strikers, he’s a real threat.

"We’ve seen already with Phil [these last] few games. When the team play better, when every player makes his potential...but it’s not just today. The game against Arsenal, United, Napoli, he was really good."

The departure of Kevin De Bruyne in the summer could have been a hammer blow to City’s creativity, but Foden has treated it as a golden chance to make the role his own. Back in the 2023–24 campaign, Foden’s best football coincided with De Bruyne’s injury absences. Operating centrally, he tore defences apart and walked away with the Premier League Player of the Year award. History looks to be repeating itself, only this time with the Belgian gone for good.

City’s demanding schedule leaves no room for passengers, and Foden’s resurgence couldn’t have arrived at a better moment. The Cityzens welcome Burnley to the Etihad on Saturday, and all eyes will be on whether Foden can extend his hot streak.