Pep Guardiola described watching Phil Foden come up to his 200th Premier League game for Manchester City as an honour, as the midfielder looks to surpass the milestone against Bournemouth on Sunday.
Foden has spent 21 years at City, having joined the club at the age of four before he signed his first professional contract in 2016; he has scored 62 and created another 28 during his 199 games so far in the English top-flight.
The England international will hope to accumulate a greater number of minutes following a substandard season due to off-the-pitch issues, and will undoubtedly be chasing a place in the England squad for next summer’s World Cup in the United States.
“It has been an honour for me to see these 200 games and the impact he has made for us and the club of his heart," he said. "It is a milestone, especially for his age.”
Foden joined Manchester City at the age of four (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Foden 'has to play as best as possible' to get selected for World Cup squad
Foden was dropped from the England squad for both June and October international breaks but has recovered his form and picked up two goals and as many assists from 11 appearances in all competitions.
Guardiola understands what it takes to fight for a place in a national team, having been a part of a series of battles for the defensive midfielder role in the Spain team during his playing career.
And he advised Foden by saying that he has to be at his absolute best every single day to get the call from Thomas Tuchel, the England manager.
“He has to play as best as possible," Guardiola said. "English players are fantastic and in his position there are many. He has to play good every day and after that, Thomas [Tuchel] will decide the best for the national team.”