WALKER ON FODEN: The talent the boy has is incredible

PHIL Foden's City teammates believe he has taken his game to another level this season, but captain Kyle Walker has told him he must hit those standards every week to enter the top bracket of players and fulfill his potential.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

The academy graduate's influence on the side is continuing to grow and he has played a more central role of late, with Erling Haaland's injury opening up the spot behind the striker, with Julian Alvarez pushed further forward.

Foden is thriving on that responsibility and having scored in the Club World Cup final on Friday night, he found the back of the net at Goodison Park on Wednesday as the Blues came from behind to beat Everton 3-1.

The 23-year-old finished the night with seven shots and was outstanding in leading City's vital second-half recovery on Merseyside.

Foden has started 11 of City's last 12 games, just missing the Champions League dead rubber against Red Star in Belgrade, and he has produced nine goals and six assists this term, stepping up in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne and after the departure of key men in the summer in Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez. "Phil's unbelievable, I've said that for numerous years since I've been here.

"The talent that boy possesses is incredible," said Walker after City's success on Merseyside.

"But with this manager and this team and the calibre of players we have Phil needs to do it week in and week out and I think this season he's really come into his own and took the responsibility on, where we're missing Kevin or Gundo or Riyad, who chip in with a lot of goals, Phil has come up with that."