Can Foden be City's saviour in a post-De Bruyne era?

New season, new Manchester City.And, if it all goes well, old Phil Foden. The best season of his career was followed by his worst. And yet, in the curiosity of a tournament that belonged fully to neither one season nor the other, there were hints he was returning towards the kind of form that saw him named Footballer of the Year. The Club World Cup may offer a longterm benefit to City if it provides a shift in momentum for Foden.

- RICHARD JOLLY

“I wouldn't say [I was at my] absolute best but I was definitely feeling a lot sharper, I managed to score a couple of goals as well,” he said. Three, to be precise. The last was his best and 100th for City during the 4-3 defeat to Al Hilal.

Some 27 of that century came in 2023-24. If Foden could return to that brilliance, it may be particularly timely.

Even as City have had an influx of players, several of them attack-minded midfielders, arguably the greatest in their history have now left. One theory for years was that, despite their differences, Foden was the successor in waiting to Kevin De Bruyne, another that Pep Guardiola could not really build a team around him while the Belgian was around and instrumental.

Will he now? “I am not sure where the manager sees me this year,” said Foden, awaiting a discussion with Guardiola. “I can play in different positions but we all know my position is the insides, in the pockets, so let's see what happens. I am not here to replicate what Kev did because we all know how good he was and what he did for the club. It is about trying my best, getting to the level where I won player of the year, I want to get back to that.”