Phil Foden said he needs to rest his injured ankle and was considering sitting out England's international fixtures next month, as well as potentially the FIFA Club World Cup with Manchester City.
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Phil Foden was the subject of some vile chanting during the Manchester derby
Phil Foden has not scored in 19 appearances for club or country since January and has now been left out of the England squad.
(Image: Getty)
Phil Foden has got his wish after being left out of England's squad for their June internationals with Andorra and Senegal.
Foden has struggled for form and fitness this season for Manchester City, bravely opening up last week over other 'off the pitch mental' issues that have prevented him from playing at his best. In an emotional interview with reporters, Foden said he has struggled with unseen off-pitch issues that are 'bigger than football.'
He said: "I've had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally," the 24-year-old said. "It's one of them, sometimes there's things in life that are bigger than football.
"This season I've struggled a little bit. Hopefully come next year I can get my head mentally right, get back where I left the season before because I know what I'm capable of doing and the quality I have.
"I know if everything was okay I'd definitely be better on the field. Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and move on. Unfortunately I've had a difficult season."
Foden also confirmed he has been playing with ligament damage in his ankle since April's derby draw at Manchester United, suggesting he rushed back too soon from that problem and needs a 'few weeks' without playing football to fully recover.
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However he admits that such a break is not possible given City's Club World Cup campaign in June and July, and the international fixtures before that.
The 24-year-old had suggested he will talk with City and England over potentially sitting out the June international break in order to rest his ankle ahead of the Club World Cup, and the result of those talks appears to have resulted in an omission from Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions squad.
England have a World Cup qualifier against minnows Andorra and a friendly against Senegal, meaning Foden is not missing any major fixtures.
City defender Kyle Walker was included as his future remains uncertain after a loan at AC Milan. Walker is closing in on 100 caps and has made no secret of his desire to reach that figure. John Stones is not included as he waits to return from injury, while Jack Grealish was not included after struggling to hold down a place for City.
Rico Lewis has also been left out, so Walker is the only player from City ahead of their Club World Cup trip - and he is unlikely to be with the Blues in the USA.
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