Phil Foden has returned to Manchester City training in a timely fitness boost ahead of next week’s potential title decider against Arsenal.
The England midfielder has been one of Pep Guardiola’s standout players once again this term, scoring 13 goals and providing six assists so far in 36 appearances across all competitions during a campaign that could yet end with a memorable treble.
However, Foden, who was also a regular for his country at the World Cup in Qatar over the winter, has not played for City since the 6-0 drubbing of Vincent Kompany’s Burnley in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 18.
The 22-year-old last featured for England in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy last month, missing the subsequent clash with Ukraine and later City’s last four games across all competitions.
Foden was expected to be sidelined for between two to four weeks after requiring surgery for a bout of appendicitis, sitting out the Premier League wins over Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester as well as last week’s 3-0 defeat of Bayern Munich in the heavyweight Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie.
But he could have a role to play in the return fixture against Bayern at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night, having taken part in open City training in Manchester on Tuesday morning.
Getting Foden back now is a huge advantage for Guardiola’s side, who after Bayern face Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on Saturday before a crunch top-flight title showdown with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium next week.
Defending champions City now trail the leaders by just four points in second place with a game in hand after their win over Leicester on Saturday was followed by Arsenal throwing away a two-goal lead to draw for the second weekend in a row at West Ham.
His return means that City have no known injury worries at present, with record-breaking striker Erling Haaland having immediately returned to the goal trail after his recent return from a groin problem sustained before the international break.
Guardiola will give a further update on his latest team news at a City press conference held in Bavaria on Tuesday evening.
