For a player who is supposedly having a 'quiet season', Phil Foden has been excellent for Manchester City in recent months.
The Blues academy graduate set the Premier League alight last season as he established himself as a sure starter in Pep Guardiola's side, so much so that his slightly reduced productivity this term has prompted some to say he has regressed.
That is simply not true, although there are a few reasons why some might come to that initial conclusion. What is clear though is that Foden is enjoying a better season than cross-town rival and former academy teammate Jadon Sancho.
While it's true that Sancho's performances since his £73m move to United last summer have improved since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked - take from that what you will - with each passing week the feeling grows that the winger was wrong to leave City in 2017 in search of instant success, while Foden was right in staying at the club and following a gradual development plan.
Because let's be clear; City did not want to sell Sancho to Borussia Dortmund in 2017. This was not a case of City selling a young player on for peanuts because they didn't have the patience to develop them, rather it was the other way round.
Sancho wanted immediate first-team football and a professional wage to match, whereas City wanted to bring him into the first-team setup over a number of years. To Sancho's credit, he proved an instant hit in Germany but the way that Foden has overtaken him this season suggests that the latter took the best path to regular Premier League minutes.
Last season while largely playing on the left wing, Foden notched 16 goals and 10 assists in 50 appearances for City. However, as Guardiola recently explained, statistics never tell the full story in football.
Foden excited City fans and neutrals alike with his pace and directness on the flanks, something City had lacked since Leroy Sane departed.
This season he is on track to beat those tallies and while from a technical perspective his performances have been even better this term, his displays have perhaps not been quite as spectacular or obvious.
Foden has often operated as a false nine this season, a selfless role that to the casual observer is easy to go under the radar. He still scores and serves others but dropping deep from the front line of attack attracts less screen time and praise.
In 2021/22, Foden has shown just how adaptable and versatile he can be, having played on both wings, false nine and in midfield. A predatory instinct in front of goal is another facet of his game he has developed; his last three goals for City showcased the composure, guile and ruthlessness of an elite striker. Foden is fast becoming the complete attacker.
Sancho has improved markedly since Ralf Rangnick took over at Old Trafford and along with Anthony Elanga, is one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise dull and largely uninspiring team.
Both Sancho and Foden are supremely talented 21-year-olds, who will achieve great things for club and country over the next decade or more. But one can't help but feel that while Sancho struggles to marry his talent with a dysfunctional team, Foden benefits from a system that suits him and accommodates him, just as much as he accommodates the needs of the team.
Ultimately, there is only so much a player can do as an individual. Sancho enjoyed four outstanding years at Dortmund but has resembled half the player at United. As Foden has shown, not even top players can succeed without the right systems in place to support them. Patience is a virtue.
How far ahead of Sancho do you think Foden is now? Follow our City Is Ours writer Alex Brotherton on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
