Phil Foden has revealed that he now feels 100% after recently going through "one of the worst parts" of his career at Manchester City.
The 22-year-old academy graduate has developed into a key player under Pep Guardiola in recent seasons and made a strong start to the 2022-23 campaign, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in his first 12 appearances for the Citizens across all competitions.
However, Foden endured a difficult period with injury and illness after representing England at the 2022 World Cup and struggled to cement a regular place in City's starting lineup.
Indeed, the attacker only found the net once and completing the full 90 minutes in just two of his first 13 games following the tournament in Qatar, with Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish preferred in wide areas.
Foden has since worked his way back into the first-team fold, starting each of the last three games and contributing to four goals – netting three times and providing one assists.
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A goal and an assist was recorded in City's 4-1 Premier League win at Bournemouth last weekend, before he netted a brace in the 3-0 FA Cup fifth-round victory against Bristol City on Tuesday night.
Foden now appears to have regained the form that he showed for City earlier this season, and the attacker is hoping to put his previous 'frustrations' aside as he bids to keep his place as a regular starter.
"I feel much better with my feet. I feel 100% fit now and comfortable," Foden told ITV after the win on Tuesday. "[It has] been one of the worst parts of my career but everyone goes through them and it is how you react.
"[The issue was] discomfort in my feet and not playing as much. I love to play football and when I don't I am a bit frustrated."
Guardiola has praised Foden's work-rate in the victory at Bristol City and revealed that he has been left 'flabbergasted' by the attacker's development during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
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"I said last week that we don't have any doubts about Phil," Guardiola told reporters via The Independent. "The impact of Phil since he has arrived has been flabbergasting. He has been awesome, getting better and better.
"He has struggled a little bit with the ankle, but he doesn't complain. He wants to train, he wants to play, play with problems.
"But it's not about the goal he scored in the last game (at Bournemouth), or the two goals he scored today. It's about how aggressive he is and how he does things.
"He has done it again, his work ethic, the way he trained. Every single action is 100% and at the end it will pay off."
Foden, who has made over 200 appearances and won 11 trophies since making his City debut in 2017, will be hoping to retain his place in the starting lineup when the Citizens welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad for a Premier League clash on Saturday.
Oliver Thomas
