Pep Guardiola believes teenager Phil Foden is ready for an England call-up, even though he has only played eight minutes in the Premier League this season.
Midfielder Foden was in the mix to be named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for this month’s internationals but the England boss wants the 18-year-old to be given more game-time before a potential debut.
Southgate sympathised with the difficulty facing the City boss — citing his squad’s strength and depth — but Guardiola made it clear Foden has a role to play in the coming months.
Pep Guardiola believes young midfielder Phil Foden (front) is ready for England selection
Foden had been in the mix to be named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad this month
‘We do our best, I do my best,’ said Guardiola. ‘I think Phil is ready for England. He’s ready for City because he’s here. If he wasn’t ready, he wouldn’t be here. Phil’s special, his work ethic is excellent and he will have a lot of minutes this season. After that Gareth has his own decision.
‘I don’t feel the pressure (developing Foden). I feel the pressure to win the games.’
City sources have stressed that Foden, who is awaiting talks over a new contract, is not expected to become a first-team regular for a few years.
Guardiola does, however, believe his progress means he is already bucking the trend.
‘He can compete with David Silva, with Gundogan, with Kevin De Bruyne when he’s fit, with Fernandinho, with the top players,’ he added.
‘If you see the big 10-20 clubs in Europe in all the competitions, you don’t see many people playing who are 18-19 years old. Maybe one, two, three, but not too many.’
The youngster has played just eight minutes so far this season for Manchester City
Guardiola has labelled the 18-year-old playmaker from Stockport a ‘special’ talent
Guardiola, 47, reiterated his desire to try international management but suggested that may not be with Spain, saying: ‘I think that is not going to happen. I would like to play a World Cup and a European Championship. I would like to live that situation. When I see the World Cup, I think I would like to be there.
‘I had one chance as a player. In eight, 12, 14 years maybe it could happen.
‘In our lives, we have dreams but it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.’
Leroy Sane, meanwhile, may regain his place in the City side against Fulham on Saturday.
The Germany winger returned to training early in the week following the birth of his first daughter Rio Stella. He was dropped from the squad who beat Newcastle before the international break and Guardiola admitted Sane is a slow starter.
‘For some players it’s like this,’ he said. ‘Some players, at the end of the season, are a little bit down. We cannot forget he’s 22 years old. All our strikers except for Sergio — the other ones are so young.
‘Sometimes you need to see the situation. He will grow up. The most important thing and the most important issue we have is to help them to grow.’
Leroy Sane (pictured) could return to the Manchester City lineup for Saturday’s visit of Fulham