FODEN SET TO BE LIONISED

City firestarter can send Tuchel a hint

- by ALEX HANKIN

PHIL your boots with an England reject who’s got a score to settle.

Manchester City welcome Everton (3pm), with Phil Foden rested if far from relaxed after his Three Lions credentials - once seemingly beyond question - were met with a withering ‘Nein!’ from Thomas Tuchel.

Its arguable that Kevin De Bruyne is now the best Manchester City midfielder Manchester City haven't got, given how the wand-footed Belgian is suddenly tearing it up in Serie A - goals and assists coming out of his ears while his old club struggle to hear the tune of their former dominance.

But there can be little argument Foden is the best City midfielder who might find himself watching the World Cup on his phone.

Still early days on that front, and the 25-year-old City dazzler has rediscovered the thread of form and enthusiasm that so characterised his best Etihad season to date, 2023-24.

Is it just coincidence that an injury-plagued De Bruyne was already becoming a marginal figure for Pep Guardiola at that point?

It doesn’t get much more marginal than leaving entirely, and if Foden needed centre stage to best strut his stuff it’s there for the taking.