Man City's Foden confident of return to top form after tough spell

Phil Foden, the Manchester City midfielder, is optimistic about recapturing his previous peak performance following a recent scoring surge, according to a recent report. This resurgence in form has given Foden renewed confidence as he prepares for an upcoming Champions League match against RB Leipzig on Wednesday. Foden, who once earned the Premier League Player of the Season and Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year titles in 2024, having scored a career-high 27 goals in all competitions, experienced a drop in form that ultimately barred him from England's 2026 World Cup squad.

On Tuesday, Foden expressed his aspiration to regain that level of play, stating, "Hopefully I can get back to that level. I think I’m slightly starting to get back there now with my recent performances." The 26-year-old scored his first goal of the Premier League season against Ipswich Town last month, following a suspension after a red card he received in the Manchester derby.

Subsequently, Foden scored a hat-trick and provided an assist in City's 5-1 Champions League victory over AEK Athens. Foden pointed to the red card as an unfortunate setback, but noted that the subsequent break allowed him to return to the field fresh-minded and sharp. "Being involved in goals gives you a lot of confidence and when you’re playing regularly as well you kind of just get into a rhythm and a groove," he added.

When asked about his future with the England national team, Foden revealed that he hasn't consulted with England manager Thomas Tuchel since being left out of the World Cup squad. Instead, he is focusing on delivering strong performances for Manchester City. "All I try and do really is focus on my own game and hopefully one day the call-up might come back," Foden said.