Foden on way back to being a major force

SNUBBED BY ENGLAND - BUT CITY STAR SHOWING CLEAR SIGNS HE'S GETTING BACK TO HIS BEST

- By SIMON BAJKOWSKI

COME for the goal, stay for the midfield marshalling that steered Manchester City through to the next round of the Carabao Cup.

Pep Guardiola made nine changes from Sunday for their trip to Huddersfield, yet it was Phil Foden - starting his fourth game in 11 days - who stepped up and took responsibility in a 2-0 win.

The first-half goal to give City the lead was textbook, exchanging passes outside the area with debutant Divine Mukasa before getting the ball out of his feet and firing the into the far corner. But City will be even more thrilled with the desire and energy Foden showed to push himself to his limit to make the difference for the team.

Last season was horrible for the 25-year-old. He was spent mentally and physically on the back of his incredible 2023/24 campaign, and finished the year as peripheral to Guardiola's plans as he had started it.

Even in the summer, freshness at the Club World Cup was followed by more knocks, just 15 minutes of game time in the opening three games, and no place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for England's fixtures earlier this month. Foden looked a long way from his best still.