Pep Guardiola has spoken of how important it is that Phil Foden returns to full fitness, as the Manchester City manager wants to see the England man "playing with joy" and with a smile on his face once again. It has been a difficult recent period for the 2023/24 PFA Player of the Year, who struggled for form last season and has spent time out recently with an ankle injury.
Manchester City’s midfield crisis has deepened as both Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic join Rodri on the injury list ahead of the Premier League season. Pep Guardiola confirmed that Kovacic could be sidelined until October with an achilles problem, leaving the champions scrambling for solutions in the No.6 role. Foden’s setback further adds to Guardiola’s early-season selection headache.