Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca believes Phil Foden has delivered compelling evidence that his prolonged career slump is finally drawing to a close, following a decisive hat-trick in City’s 5-1 thrashing of AEK Athens in the Champions League.

The 26-year-old playmaker has endured an arduous two-year period marred by inconsistent performances and admitted mental health struggles. Having fallen out of favour under former manager Pep Guardiola, Foden experienced an excruciating 10-month goal drought that was only broken during a weekend Premier League fixture against Ipswich. The current campaign has offered little respite, featuring a red card against Manchester United and an uphill battle to secure a regular starting spot under Maresca.

Seizing an opportunity created by Erling Haaland’s benching and an eight-week layoff for Antoine Semenyo, Foden showcased his tactical versatility at the Etihad Stadium. Beginning on the left wing before shifting inside to orchestrate play as a “false nine,” the England international dominated the contest. Maresca lauded the performance post-match, emphasising that a resurgent Foden provides City with an invaluable attacking asset for the remainder of the season.

The commanding display is also expected to capture the attention of England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of upcoming Nations League fixtures. After being omitted from England's World Cup squad earlier in the year—a dramatic fall from grace for a player once hailed as the nation's premier talent—Foden now faces the challenge of demonstrating consistent output to cement his standing for both club and country.

Source: www.aljazeera.com