Pep Guardiola expects Phil Foden call after Man City illness

Pep Guardiola does not expect Phil Foden to be called up for England duty after missing two Manchester City matches with illness.

Foden has been named in Lee Carsley's squad for UEFA Nations League games with Ireland and Finland over the next 10 days, but has been sidelined with pains in his stomach. The 24-year-old felt some discomfort after the match against Chelsea two weeks ago and was not involved in either of the wins over Ipswich or West Ham.

City's staff do not think the issue is serious and there is an expectation that he will be ready for the home game against Brentford in a fortnight, but Guardiola would be surprised to see Foden playing for England before then. Despite his international call-up, he has been unavailable for his club for the last two fixtures.

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"I don't think so," said Guardiola. "I think he will not go but I don't know.

"He doesn't feel well, otherwise he would be here. But national teams decide. He doesn't feel good with his stomach and he has a little virus but people say with antibiotics and so on he will be fine."

Jack Grealish will join up with the England squad after earning his spot back following his Euros heartbreak, and Guardiola is happy that the former Aston Villa man has more opportunities to build his confidence up. After a perfect start for City that has surpassed expectations though, there is wariness about the next fortnight where the health of their players will be out of their hands.

"Hopefully he can come back fit and better. All my English players I would like them to go to the national team when they are fit and the other