Manchester City's squad are reportedly growing increasingly concerned over Phil Foden's dramatic dip in form, with suggestions that the 24-year-old has lost some weight. The England midfielder, who was crowned PFA Player of the Year last season, is currently struggling to replicate his previous performances.
Foden hasn't contributed a goal or an assist in the Premier League since City's 3-1 victory over Chelsea in January, and his tally for this season stands at just seven goals and two assists. This marks a significant drop from his impressive haul of 19 goals and eight assists during the 2023-24 campaign.
Despite his lacklustre form, Foden remains a key part of Pep Guardiola's plans, although he has found himself on the bench for two of City's last three Premier League matches. In the game he did start against Nottingham Forest, he was substituted after only 69 minutes.
Foden was still selected for Thomas Tuchel's inaugural England squad and started on the wing against Albania. However, his performance drew criticism from the German coach due to his lack of impact.
Foden's ongoing struggles have left both fans and pundits puzzled, and the Daily Mail report that his City team-mates are privately worried about him. The report suggests that some squad members have noticed that Foden, who is thought to have relocated his family outside of Manchester, appears to have lost weight during what has been a challenging season for him personally.
It is suggested that Foden's England spot is under threat due to his struggles to replicate his previous form this season and the midfielder was frustrated with his role at the Euros, being shifted to the left wing to accommodate Jude Bellingham. He has since found it challenging to make an impact in that position for City.
Tuchel, looking to assert his influence on the team ahead of the World Cup, is unwilling to carry passengers in his squad, potentially putting Foden's place in jeopardy. Discussing Foden's sub-par performance, along with those of Marcus Rashford, Tuchel noted: "We hope for more impact in these positions. More dribbling and more aggressive runs towards the box.
"In general, that was missing. The chances come from the little runs behind the line. They were not as decisive as they can be. It was a little bit too much passing, not enough dribbling, not aggressive enough towards goal."
Tuchel acknowledged that Foden is currently struggling to find his rhythm too, saying: "For Phil, it's a difficult season in the club. He comes from several weeks where he does not find the rhythm that he found last season, things are not so easy for him, so we called him up to show him our support and our love and our commitment."
This article originally appeared on Mirror