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Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany hopes that Phil Foden can play himself back into form under new England head coach Thomas Tuchel having previously endured ‘poor stints’ at international level.
Foden was named PFA, FWA and Premier League Player of the Year after enjoying arguably his best season yet in a Citizens shirt in 2023-24, scoring 27 goals and providing 12 assists in 53 appearances.
However, the 24-year-old was unable to replicate his club form on the international stage with England at Euro 2024, and his struggles have since continued at the Etihad Stadium during a turbulent 2024-25 campaign for Man City overall.
Foden endured a disrupted start to the season due to illness before enjoying a purple patch in front of goal at the beginning of this year, recording six goals and two assists across six games in January, but he has since contributed with only one assist in his last 11 appearances in all competitions.
The playmaker, who was left out of Pep Guardiola‘s starting lineup for Man City’s 2-2 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League last weekend, has been named in England’s squad for this month’s international break despite his alarming dip in form.
‘Foden isn’t good internationally right now’
While Foden has previously excelled over the years at Man City, the six-time Premier League winner has struggled to make his mark on a consistent basis with England, scoring just four goals in 43 international appearances since his senior debut in September 2020.
McInerney has acknowledged that Foden “isn’t good internationally” at present, but he is hoping that the versatile attacker can impress new England boss Tuchel this month in 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at Wembley Stadium.
Speaking to Sports Mole, McInerney said: “I want to see Phil find a little bit of form. He’s never really established himself for England, which is frustrating because you do want to see him be the Phil Foden that we know and love at City for England, that would be great.
“I hope he does well because the rest of [Man City’s players] are where they are, but Phil, off the back of winning so many awards last season, being phenomenal, scoring 20-odd goals, his England stints have always been poor for whatever reason.
“They just can’t find a role for him and I hoped that wouldn’t be the case, but we’ve got to accept what’s there in front of us. He just isn’t good internationally right now and that will hold him back a little bit mentally.
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Can Foden find his best form under Tuchel with England?
“For whatever reason, Phil’s had a little bit of self-doubt this season (at Man City) I reckon, or he’s not really found his best form because a lot of the dynamism’s gone.
“There were some rumours that he wasn’t in the best mental place at the start of the season – that is not ideal because you want him to be one of the guys to carry the team forward as he gets older and it doesn’t feel like there’s a lot of stability in terms of his mental state currently.
“If he could play well for England too under Thomas Tuchel, that could give him a little bit of a boost mentally, hopefully, to find his best form. A couple of goals for England would be wonderful.
“He’s not even playing that much right now, he’s sort of a rotation player too, so just a start for him for England would be good as well.
“I think it is a chance for him to get some minutes on the board, play, hopefully impress, improve his self-belief and find himself a little, because even though this season has felt like a bit of a write-off for him, there is still plenty to play for”.
Many will argue that Foden has a strong chance of starting at least one of England’s upcoming qualifiers, either in an advanced central role or on the right flank, as both Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka are ruled out of this month’s squad due to injury.
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
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