'He keeps me on my toes' - Kevin De Bruyne admits he feels the pressure amid 'amazing' Phil Foden's performances in Man City's Premier League title challenge

The Manchester City talisman netted a brace and provided the assist for Erling Haaland's goal in the 4-2 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday. After a scintillating performance at Selhurst Park, De Bruyne admitted that Foden has kept him on his toes after consistently performing for the club in the current campaign.

When asked if he felt pressure to perform after Foden's hat-trick against Aston Villa in the midweek, the Belgian said to TNT Sports: "Yeah I do because these guys keep me on my toes. I don't expect to just be given my place. If I don't perform well, I won't play. Phil Foden has been amazing this season so deserves it but it keeps me on my toes. I think it's possible. When I started at 16 or 17 nobody thought it was possible with David Silva.

"It will be a little bit vice versa but I don't see why not. We have not done it that much. I just try to be more of an example with the way I am on the pitch. I won't be the person to tell others how to live their lives but I try to show on the pitch. I have played with Phil [Foden] for seven or eight years now so I don't feel like he is a youngster anymore. He is an established superstar in our team. He is just amazing."

With a treble against Villa in their previous match, Foden joined an exclusive list of players who have 20 or more goals and at least 10 assists playing in Europe's top five leagues. He has already netted 14 times in the Premier League, the most he has scored in a single league campaign.

Having scored eight goals in their last two games, City will now shift focus to Europe as they gear up to take on Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash on April 9.