'Definitely needed' - Phil Foden welcomes new additions to Man City squad as he pledges to 'make up for last season'

The midfielder had the worst season of his career just 12 months after being named the PFA Player of the Year, struggling off the pitch as well as on it. City, meanwhile, failed to win a major trophy for the first time since 2017 and also had their worst league finish in nine seasons. But he believes his side can make amends with a strong showing in the coming season, especially after the club signed Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and James Trafford.

Pep Guardiola has said he prefers to have a smaller squad so players feel involved and stay motivated and even recently remarked that his current squad is too big. But Foden believes the team were crying out for fresh faces to shake things up and bring more competition for places.

"It always gets to a time when any club needs to add new players and freshen things up and we have done that in this transfer window," he said. "And that can only be good for us as the players we have brought in are very high level and fit right into the team and give us something we need a little bit more so we are here to help and we have got a very good squad now."

"I think everyone wants to make up for last season, we all want to come to our best and winning titles," Foden told reporters at City's open training session on Tuesday. "We have got a lot of experience in the dressing room, with Bernardo being captain and hopefully he can push the lads on, we have got all the experience and we have done it before. That’s a positive when you have done it before, you know how to do it and what it takes so hopefully we can get back there."

City missed Ballon d'Or winner Rodri for the majority of last season after he tore his knee ligaments in September and Foden believes City will get a huge lift from his return to action. "That’s the main thing," he said. "Obviously it is going to take him a bit of a while to get back to his full fitness and sharpness because it is such a long injury but we all know what Rodri can do. He’s unstoppable. Playing alongside him is unbelievable. He just makes you feel secure. He doesn’t lose the ball and he does everything."

City returned to training later than most of their Premier League rivals due to their participation in the Club World Cup and only have one pre-season friendly before kicking off the campaign away to Wolves on August 16. That is on Saturday against Serie B side Palermo, who belong to the City Football Group.