---
title: "Man City: Phil Foden told he’s having his best-ever season"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-man-city-phil-foden-england-world-cup-praise/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Manchester City News"
published: "2022-12-01T12:05:35Z"
modified: "2022-12-01T12:05:35Z"
---

# Man City: Phil Foden told he’s having his best-ever season

**[Manchester City](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/) star Phil Foden has been told he is having his best-ever season after a first [World Cup](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/world-cup-2022/) start for England against Wales.**

### The Lowdown: Foden performs on cue…

The 22-year-old was made to wait for his first start in Qatar by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, despite [calls](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2022/11/30/phil-foden-felt-pressure-to-perform-after-england-fans-call-to-start-wales-game/) for the City fan favourite to be drafted into the line-up.

Foden’s creativity could have been an asset against the USA, but after England’s dreary 0-0 draw against their cross-Atlantic rivals, Southgate opted to hand Foden the nod against Wales in their final group game.

The Sky Blues star repaid that faith and put in a brilliant display, helping to guide his nation to top spot in their group. Foden finished the 90 minutes of their [3-0 victory](https://www.sofascore.com/england-wales/cUbsnUb) as one of England’s [highest-rated players](https://www.sofascore.com/england-wales/cUbsnUb) and grabbed a goal for his efforts, feeding off a sublime cross from team-mate Harry Kane for their second.

### The Latest: Whelan praises Foden…

Speaking to [Football Insider,](https://www.footballinsider247.com/man-city-news-pundit-on-phil-foden-potentially-being-axed-hes-the-one/) former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has claimed that the City midfielder is having his best-ever season for club and country off the back of his performances.

The 47-year-old explained: *“The Wales game was a perfect opportunity to put Foden in.* *He is the one player who was going to unlock defences, especially as Wales started to push players forward to try and get a result.*

*“We’re going to need him in the knockout stage, and he needed a game.* *Everyone knows the quality he has and he’s shown that with Man City so far this season, he’s having the best season of his career so far.*

*“No one can question the job that Sterling or Saka have done so far but giving them that rest was exactly what Southgate should have done.”*

\[freshpress-quiz id=”415385″\]

### The Verdict: He must start against Senegal

Next up for England – a crunch round-of-16 tie against African champions Senegal on Sunday night.

Judging by Foden’s outing against Wales, where he had a real creative influence in the attacking areas and appeared hungry to prove a point, we believe that he ought to be a sho0-in for England’s all-important knockout tie.