Enzo Maresca has stated that Phil Foden improves Manchester City when he is on the pitch ahead of Saturday's Premier League meeting with Aston Villa.
Phil Foden could be in line for more minutes at Man City in the absence of Antoine Semenyo.
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Foden returned to the Manchester City starting line-up in the 3-2 win over Ipswich Town last week, scoring the opening goal after serving a three-match domestic suspension.
The forward then scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 Champions League win over AEK Athens on Tuesday night, taking him to four goals in two games in the space of four days.
Foden was sent off in the 1-0 win at Old Trafford over Manchester United in September after kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, a decision that ruled him out of games against Norwich City, Sunderland and Liverpool.
He was also an unused substitute for Manchester City's 4-2 UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain before returning against Ipswich Town.
The recent run of results has come against the backdrop of an independent commission's guilty verdict on 114 of 115 charges, published on 29 September, and the club's comprehensive appeal lodged at 7pm on 1 October.
I know Phil from years ago, so I know how good he is: Maresca on Foden
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning ahead of the trip to Aston Villa, Maresca was asked about Foden's recent return to form for Manchester City.
I sat with [Phil] two or three times, especially at the beginning," the Italian said. "Just to show, I don't know if 'love' is the right word to use, how important he is! I know Phil from years ago, so I know how good he is."
Maresca was then asked about the struggles Foden has experienced over the last two seasons at Manchester City. The 46-year-old added: "For different reasons in the last years, he was not good enough, but when you have more players like Phil available, you're a better team.
"It's a matter of improving players - if you improve the players, you improve the team. So, for me, I think it's my duty to try to help Phil to be again one of the best players in England."
Maresca believes Foden, Cherki and Haaland can play together in Semenyo absence
Antoine Semenyo is out for around eight weeks with an injury suffered against Ipswich Town, with the absence coming as Maresca continues to weigh up his attacking options, with Foden, Rayan Cherki, Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku among the forwards available for the trip to Aston Villa.
Maresca was also asked about the possibility of Foden playing alongside Cherki and Haaland in the same line-up, and the manager said: "Yeah it depends a little bit on the game plan. I think they can play all together, yeah!"
Foden scored a treble against AEK Athens on Tuesday night, finishing after a first-half one-two with Rico Lewis, firing first time into the top left corner and tapping in a cross from substitute Ryan McAidoo late on.
Maresca praised the forward as being among the finest English players after his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick, in a match where Haaland was rested and Foden played further forward.
The Manchester City star signed a new four-year contract in August that keeps him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030, with an option to extend for a further 12 months.
Manchester City have won their first seven Premier League games of the 2026/27 season under Enzo Maresca and head to Villa Park top of the table.