Phil Foden: He's one of our own.

Image courtesy of eurosport.com

Before the start of this season, Erling Haaland was asked which Man City player he expects to have a great season. His answer: Phil Foden, a man who had to settle for a role on the sidelines as City won the treble in the latter stages of last season.

As Manchester City continue to chase the four-peat dream, as well as the prospect of a second consecutive treble, Foden has lived up to these high expectations, as he has been by far City’s most consistent performer this season. 

The "Stockport Iniesta" has registered double figures for both goals and assists this season. He continues to impress even when there's a debate about what his most suitable position on the pitch is.

This season, he has clearly excelled mostly through the middle attacking position which unlocks his attacking potential fully. But in the past, his best position has been on either flank, where he can show off his excellent dribbling and pace.

Pep Guardiola asserts that the 23 year old still has a lot to learn before he can play in the middle for longer. With his rare technical ability, it will be interesting to see what he continues to offer to the team.

His continued form has raised questions about whether he should start for England in the upcoming Euros, who will be looking to claim their first silverware since 1966. 

There's no doubt in my mind that he should, since he has proven himself at all levels, even in big games. 

Speaking of big games, he continues to shine in the Champions League this season as Man City look to defend their UCL glory as they continue the quest of European dominance and cementing their place among European elite. 

At such a young age, Foden has amassed 16 trophies and he is still counting. He may well end his career as the player with the most trophies if the current performance trajectory continues. 

Just a few weeks ago, Foden scored a hat-trick to complete the comeback in a tricky game at G-tech Arena against Thomas Frank’s Brentford. The boyhood Citizen celebrated with his newfound bullet celebration as he fired thrice that game.

When asked about the inspiration behind the celebration after the match, he said his teammates call him the sniper as he likes to shoot a lot during the 5-A-side games in training.

This comes with no surprise as his shooting has significantly improved since his unforgettable miss in Istanbul against Inter in the UCL final.

He has since matured in front of goal as he looks more composed. He has a lot of goals to show for that; 15 in all competitions so far this season, to be precise.

As we get to the business end of the season — where every football fan expects City to put together a long winning run; expect to see more of him.

It's the part of the season where teams will be defending with a low block and Pep will need him to use his unique abilities to play in small spaces and pockets at the edge of the box to penetrate defences with pinpoint passes and dribbling ability to create chances for Haaland and co. up front. 

In his pre-match press conference for today's game, Frank praised Foden for his talent and work ethic. He also made a claim that he may be the most likely English player to win the Ballon D'Or. 

It's a big claim but it will surely put a smile on the faces of every Man City fan to see one Foden getting his flowers. He's here - and he is one of our own.