Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund: Does Phil Foden deserve a call-up to the England national team?

While Norwegian Haaland’s impressive feats this season – 27 goals now for club and country – have grabbed the headlines, Foden is a key part of that ‘talent up front’.

After being left out of England’s previous two squads – and not making himself available for camp before that – he faces the difficult task of making his way back into Thomas Tuchel’s squad.

Jude Bellingham – who is also hoping to return after a shoulder injury – and Morgan Rogers are in contention for the No.10 spot – a position in which manager Pep Guardiola feels Foden is happy.

As for Manchester City, he has emerged from the shadow of Kevin De Bruyne, who left the club in the summer as a legend, while injuries to Omar Marmoush and Rayan Chergui at the start of this season have allowed him to make a place his own.

After a poor start, Guardiola’s men have lost just one of their last 13 games in all competitions, and Foden has featured in 12 of them, having put his hand to play – “a sign he is ready” according to his manager.

Asked whether Foden deserved to return to England’s reckoning – especially with the World Cup looming next summer – Guardiola said: “Thomas is very intelligent and wise and knows exactly what the national team needs – and I think Thomas knows Phil perfectly.

“There is no one in this country, and no one around the world, who does not know his quality and his ability, but England are very lucky to have a number of good players in this position, there are a lot of them.

“That’s why Phil has to push himself to be better and better, because when he’s called upon, [he will] Say, “Okay, I’ll show how good I am.”

Seeing Foden at full energy and creativity scoring exhilarating goals such as the two against Dortmund has delighted Guardiola and City fans, who adore their local hero.

He admitted that he was trying to regain his “mental health” after the difficulties he faced last season.

In the previous 2023-24 season, Foden scored 27 goals in all competitions, including 19 goals in the Premier League, as City achieved an unprecedented fourth consecutive title.

It earned him the Footballer of the Season and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Season awards, as well as being named in the PFA Team of the Year.

Foden also started all seven matches as he helped England reach the European Championship final in July 2024, where they lost to Spain 2-1.

But if Tuchel rules him out again, it will lead to concerns about adding to his 45 caps and playing in football’s major international tournament.

Former City and Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown has no doubts as he told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think we have to look at Foden in the England team – the full form Foden, who can make the difference.

He added, “A mature person who wants this and is calm in difficult situations. I think he is now at the level that allows him to return to the team and put pressure on the coach. He will accept this challenge.”

“He’s like a big kid when it comes to football, he wants to play with the ball at his feet. As a coach it was about supporting him and getting on the pitch in the right position and he’s found that now.”

“He should go into the England squad.”