Phil Foden produced a performance of maturity and brilliance at the Etihad that not only reignited Manchester City’s campaign but also reignited the debate over his place in the England squad.
Last season was one to forget for both club and player. Manchester City failed to win a major trophy for the first time in eight years, while Foden battled with injuries and personal challenges off the pitch. Yet, as this season unfolds, the 25-year-old appears revitalized — sharper, more confident, and once again playing with the flair that has long defined his game.
Four goals and three assists in 13 appearances are evidence of a player rediscovering his rhythm. His standout display in City’s 4–1 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund — a match in which he briefly outshone Erling Haaland — may have arrived at the perfect moment with England manager Thomas Tuchel set to announce his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.
“I’m loving it,” Foden told TNT Sports. “Last year was tough, not just for me but for everyone. I’m just trying to play with a smile on my face again. You can feel a new togetherness in the team.”
While Haaland’s extraordinary scoring feats have dominated headlines, Foden’s influence in City’s attacking structure has been quietly pivotal. Having been omitted from the last two England squads — and unavailable for the camp prior to that — Foden faces the challenge of proving his readiness for international duty once more.
With Jude Bellingham returning from injury and Morgan Rogers also impressing, competition for England’s creative midfield roles is fierce. Yet at City, Foden has seamlessly stepped into the creative void left by Kevin De Bruyne’s departure last summer, establishing himself as Pep Guardiola’s primary playmaker.
His response has been impressive: after a shaky start to the season, City have lost just once in 13 matches, with Foden featuring in 12 of them. Guardiola sees this as a mark of renewed maturity and hunger.
“Thomas [Tuchel] knows exactly what England need,” Guardiola said. “Everyone knows Phil’s quality — there’s no debate there. England are lucky to have so many good players in that position, which means Phil has to keep pushing to be even better.”
The images of Foden dancing through defences and curling in goals — like his two strikes against Dortmund — have reminded fans of the player who inspired City’s record-breaking 2023–24 season. That campaign saw him net 27 goals across competitions, win Player of the Season, FWA Footballer of the Year, and help England reach the Euro 2024 final.
Yet, should Tuchel once again overlook him, it will raise serious questions about whether Foden’s international career risks stagnation at just 25 years old and 45 caps to his name.
Former City and Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown believes Foden’s time has come again.
“You have to look at Foden for England — the full, in-form Foden,” Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live. “He’s mature, calm under pressure, and capable of changing games. He’s found his position and rhythm again. He has to be in that squad.”
A minor ankle injury limited Foden early in the campaign, but recent performances suggest he is once again indispensable. He scored in the Manchester derby, set up Haaland’s winner against Napoli, and starred in the Carabao Cup victory over Huddersfield. His brace against Dortmund underlined his confidence and precision, taking his tally of goals from outside the box to 11 since the start of 2023–24 — more than any other Premier League player.
“He’s already there,” Guardiola told TNT Sports. “He doesn’t need to get closer to his best — he’s hit that level again. His effort, his intelligence, his execution — we’ve missed that.”
Former England midfielder Leon Osman provided insight into how Foden exploited Dortmund’s defensive structure.
“Dortmund allowed City to play into that pocket of space in front of their defence all night,” Osman explained on Match of the Day: UCL. “Foden profited the most from it. He and [Tijjani] Reijnders rotated beautifully — either coming into the pocket or allowing Haaland to drop deep. It’s classic City: high wingers stretch the defence, leaving Foden the space to create and finish.”
His positioning intelligence and timing — hallmarks of his best football — were evident in both goals, as Dortmund repeatedly failed to close him down.
Foden’s resurgence feels both timely and symbolic. For City, he’s evolved from a promising academy graduate into their creative heartbeat. For England, his form represents an opportunity too valuable to ignore.
As Guardiola put it, “Everyone knows his quality.” The question now is whether Tuchel believes it’s time to let that quality shine on the international stage once again.
