'World-class' Phil Foden imperative to Man City success as Pep Guardiola praised for development

Manchester City star Phil Foden has been hailed as "world-class" by former England international Lee Dixon.

The 21-year-old continued his fine form this season with another marquee performance as City shook off their early cobwebs to see off the challenge of Championship side, Peterborough United, in the FA Cup Fifth Round.

With their name firmly in the draw for the next round, the treble remains a possibility with a lead in the Premier League as well as a comfortable first-leg lead against Sporting CP going into the reverse fixture at the Etihad.

READ MORE:Man City player ratings as Phil Foden and Fernandinho crush Peterborough in FA Cup

Speaking during the dying embers of their win over the Posh, Dixon said: "Well… yeah [he will get undroppable] he will get left out because Pep will rotate but he is first on the teamsheet more or less every week.

"Pep has handled him, [despite] calls to play him every week, managed him absolutely superbly. He’s world-class already," he continued, nodding to Guardiola's decision to block a loan move for Foden when he arrived in Manchester.

Foden played a remarkable defence-splitting pass over the top of the host's defence for Jack Grealish who slotted in, to rubber-stamp a much-improved second-half display.

" Phil is an exceptional player, he can play in these roles upfront, in attack and he was brilliant in the way he played," the Blues boss hailed after the match.

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