Manchester City staff are allegedly growing increasingly concerned about Phil Foden's declining form since the end of last season.
The 24-year-old took home the PFA Players' Player of the Year prize for the 2023-24 campaign on account of playing a fundamental role in City's unprecedented fourth straight Premier League title.
Foden had a direct hand in 27 goals in 35 top-flight games last season - 19 of his own and five assists - but he has started the 2024-25 campaign slowly for a City side who lie five points off leaders Liverpool in the table.
The England international is yet to find the back of the net in eight top-flight appearances and has only set up one goal in the current top-flight campaign, despite playing the full 90 in their last three Premier League games.
Foden has been more influential in the Champions League, registering three goals and one assist in four matches, but his lack of top-flight goal contributions have played a significant role in City's miserable losing run.
Foden ruing the absence of two key Man City players?
© Imago
According to former Manchester United scout Mick Brown - speaking to Football Insider - a few people at the Etihad are worried about Foden's form, and Pep Guardiola has also been left wanting more from his big-hitters.
"Some people at the club are concerned about Foden," Brown told the publication. "Guardiola is the best in the business and he knows his players better than anybody.
"But from what I've heard, he's been disappointed with the influence some of his key players, including Foden, have had in recent weeks and during this run."
City will be working without Rodri for the rest of the season due to his ACL injury, while Kevin De Bruyne has played just eight times this term due to a hamstring problem, and Brown suggests that their absences are hitting Foden hard.
"Foden has struggled because he's not being supplied by Rodri and De Bruyne. So he'll count towards that list of players that City have been missing," the scout added. "I keep seeing him disappearing from games and not having a kick for 20 minutes at a time."
Has the pressure got to Foden?
© Imago
Foden's only Premier League goal contribution this season was the corner assist for John Stones's last-gasp winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and his disappointing record comes after he was also found wanting for England at Euro 2024.
Without Rodri or De Bruyne helping him out, Brown has theorised that the pressure is too much for Foden to handle, adding: "He's scored goals in Europe, but mainly in games where City have been dominant.
"With the players they've been missing, there's been a lot of demand for him to step up and make things happen, but it's as if that pressure has got to him. At the moment, they need players to stand up and be counted, and he hasn't been one of those."
Foden - who was one of eight players to withdraw from the England squad on Monday evening - has amassed a total of 90 goals and 55 assists in 284 matches for Man City since making his debut as a 17-year-old in November 2017.
Man City's first game back after the international break comes at home to Tottenham Hotspur on November 23, three days before they host Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Ben Knapton
