After a period of uncertainty, Manchester City has some positive news.
Phil Foden, who had been sidelined due to illness, was back in training this Wednesday, much to the delight of fans and teammates.
Foden’s Absence and Missed Matches
The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has been absent for the last three weeks, sitting out key matches against Ipswich and West Ham.
His illness came at an unfortunate time, forcing him to withdraw from the England squad ahead of their games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Foden wasn’t the only player affected; teammates Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins were also pulled from the lineup.
Illness After Major Achievements
Foden’s health concerns arose shortly after he was honored with the prestigious PFA Player of the Year award on August 20.
Pep Guardiola mentioned that Foden had experienced “discomfort” following Manchester City’s win over Chelsea during the Premier League opener at Stamford Bridge.
Despite being introduced as a substitute in that game, his subsequent absence was notable.
Positive Signs in Training
However, there’s a silver lining. Foden was seen back on the pitch during City’s latest training session, looking more like his usual self.
He was actively involved, even battling for possession with teammate Mateo Kovacic, who had just returned from national duties with Croatia.
Also back in action was Kyle Walker, after missing out on his England call-up.
A Disrupted Start to the Season
Foden’s start to the 2024-25 season has been far from smooth.
His participation in Euro 2024 with England meant that he returned late to pre-season training.
City’s summer schedule was intense, including their victory over Manchester United in the Community Shield, where Foden came off the bench in the second half during the opening weekend win against Chelsea.
Unfortunately, his illness meant he couldn’t contribute in the subsequent matches.
Guardiola’s Cautious Optimism
Ahead of the West Ham game, Guardiola had expressed hope that Foden would be ready after the international break.
“Hopefully after the break, Phil will be ready,” he said.
“He played 45 minutes against Chelsea, but he wasn’t feeling good afterward.
He’s getting better, but we want him to return when he’s fully recovered.”
Looking Ahead
Foden’s achievements last season were nothing short of remarkable.
The young star scored 19 goals and provided eight assists, helping Manchester City secure their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Alongside his PFA Player of the Year award, he also took home the Premier League Player of the Season honor.
Now that Foden is back in training, City fans will be eagerly awaiting his return to match action.
Their next challenge is a home game against Brentford on Saturday, followed by a highly anticipated Champions League clash against Inter Milan.