‘I’ve hurt it again’ – Phil Foden says he damaged injured foot in Man City win vs Newcastle

Manchester City star Phil Foden took some more damage to his foot in the win over Newcastle but has still found his form.

Foden admitted last week he had suffered the worst drop in form he had experienced in his so-far brief, but brilliant, career.

On just his 10th start in the past four months, Foden scored a superb solo goal to set up an important City win that kept Guardiola’s team in contention for what would be a third consecutive league title.

It capped a week in which he had made three of those 10 starts and scored four goals in wins over Bournemouth, Bristol City and Eddie Howe’s side.

It was after the middle of those games, the FA Cup win at Bristol, that Foden admitted he had suffered the worst drop in form he had experienced in his so-far brief, but brilliant, career – a point with which his manager agreed with after this game.

A second man-of-the-match performance of the week in the 2-0 win over Newcastle helped the team to their third consecutive victory, although also saw the player suffer more damage to his foot. The last few months have taught Foden better how to manage an issue that has taken time to learn how best to treat it.

“It was the derby, I had it just before but it wasn’t too serious then. I damaged it a bit more against United,” he said.

“Unfortunately today I’ve kind of hurt it again today but now I need to rest up. We’ve got two days off now so hopefully I’ll have the chance to rest it.

“We are always playing and there is no time to rest, sometimes your feet just need to rest and that was it really. It goes through moments, it’s one of those injuries where physios can’t really help, it goes when it goes, you have to learn how to manage it.

“Whether it’s not training as much, just doing partial training, trying to look after it, I’m just trying to find that balance, trying to keep feeling good.

“Obviously when I’m not on the football pitch, I’m very frustrated but I feel like every player goes through those moments – whether it’s a big injury or a niggle. I’m just happy to have passed that stage and to be back performing.”