Phil Foden's perfect timing could be final piece of Man City treble bid puzzle

Phil Foden’s deflected strike against West Ham United on Wednesday night was his tenth goal in the league the season. This means that the 2022/23 campaign is his most productive in terms of goals yet, as he posted nine in the previous two seasons.

At the end of February, the man developed in City’s academy asserted that he had just endured the “lowest part of his career” as a result of injuries and being left out of the team. Despite this, Foden has made 27 appearances this season (albeit with 10 from the bench), which is just one fewer than the last two seasons where he notched 28.

Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish started out wide against West Ham, despite many predicting that Pep Guardiola might be inclined to give Foden his first start since City’s 6-0 thrashing of Burnley in the FA Cup.

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Foden watched on from the bench as City struggled to break a resolute West Ham down in the first half. He also remained firmly seated as Mahrez and Grealish were instrumental in City’s second-half turnaround. Mahrez curled in a wonderful cross from a free kick which Nathan Aké nodded home and Grealish slipped Erling Haaland in behind West Ham’s defence for City’s second.

Foden’s time out of the team upon his return from injury is the other side to the highly-praised form of Jack Grealish in recent months. Whilst Grealish has been exceptional, Foden has been absent. This is an unprecedented situation where England’s two best left-wingers are fiercely competing not only to get into the same national team, but to get into the same eleven for their club week in, week out.

The fourth official’s board rose in the 77th minute showing Foden’s 49 in green