There’s a big chance that Phil Foden doesn’t go to the World Cup with England – he should consider a move away from Manchester City.
That’s according to former England captain and ex-Three Lions striker Stuart Pearce and Darren Bent, who think it could maybe help Foden’s career if he considers an exit from the Etihad.
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The 25-year-old has started in 31 of his 41 appearances in all competitions for Man City this season, but he has only completed 90 minutes on 15 occasions.
And he’s struggled for goal contributions this term too, scoring 10 goals and assisting five for Pep Guardiola’s side.
In fact, Foden hasn’t scored a single goal since December 14, when he netted in a 3-0 win away at Crystal Palace.
That came when he was in his best run of form this campaign, as he scored six goals and provided one assist in four Premier League games.
But in the 19 games in all competitions since then, he’s only managed one assist and hasn’t found the back of the net again, which is concerning heading into the World Cup this summer.
Foden has also really struggled for regular minutes in recent weeks, failing to make the starting line-up for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday afternoon.
He was only introduced for the final minute of the game, which Man City won 2-0 against Arsenal to lift the first trophy of the season.
But even before that happened, Pearce and Bent had expressed their concern for Foden’s future career at Man City and with England.
Pearce said on talkSPORT commentary from Wembley: “I think in his career, expectation has been massive for Phil.
“Even from the days when he was a young pup, and there was this clamour about getting him in the first team, everyone had an opinion on Foden.
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“But the only opinion that mattered was Pep’s, so you’ve got a situation where he’s under the spotlight permanently, all the time.
“I personally think that he’s a player that comes in waves, then he’ll drop off again, that’s how his career seems to me.
“He needs to strive, and I always say you need to strive to have the consistency like [Steven] Gerrard and [Frank] Lampard, playing all the games, that’s what he should be striving for.”
Bent added: “I think he’s capable of that…the way he started this season, I thought we had Foden back, but he’s tailed off.
“If you’re Phil, with the World Cup at the end of the season, I think there’s a big chance that he doesn’t go.
“He’s a top, top player, we maybe haven’t seen that for England, but if he’s not even getting minutes, I don’t see how [Thomas]Tuchel takes him.”
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Time to move on from Man City
Pearce then asked Bent whether he thinks that a transfer away from Man City, after spending 22 years and his entire footballing career there, could be something that would benefit him.
And the ex-Premier League frontman said: “It would be [helpful].
“But my only worry with Phil is that his whole football career and education are with Pep.
“Pep is one of the greatest we’ve seen, but if you take him out of that system and place him in another one…he’s either going to thrive or get swallowed up.
“So, I think it’s a bit soon to suggest he leaves, but I do feel for Foden that he’s got to get back playing…he’s a top player but hasn’t shown it often enough.”
Pearce then weighed in with his own opinion, saying: “I don’t want to see him leave City, but I’d like to see him elsewhere and playing regularly, somewhere he’s always going to play.”