While Norwegian Haaland’s remarkable scoring feats in this campaign – 27 now for club and country – have hogged the headlines, Foden is a key part of that “talent up front”.
Having been left out of the past two England squads – and not making himself available for the camp before that – he faces a tough task of getting back into Thomas Tuchel’s set-up.
Jude Bellingham – also hoping for a return after a shoulder injury – and Morgan Rogers are rivals for the number 10 role – the position where boss Pep Guardiola feels Foden feels happiest.
For City, he has stepped out of the shadow of Kevin de Bruyne, who departed the club in the summer as a legend, while injuries to Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki at the start of this campaign allowed him to make the spot his own.
After a poor start, Guardiola’s men have lost only one of their last 13 games in all competitions and Foden has featured in 12 of those, having put his hand up to play – “a sign he is ready” according to his manager.
Asked whether Foden deserved to be back in the England reckoning – especially with next summer’s World Cup on the horizon – Guardiola said: “Thomas is so smart and wise and knows exactly what the national team needs – and I think Thomas knows Phil perfectly.
“There is no person in this country, no-one around the world, that doesn’t know his quality and ability, but England are so lucky to have an amount of good players in this position, there are a lot.
“That is why Phil has to push himself to be better and better, because when he is going to be called up, [he will] say, ‘OK, I’m going to show how good I am’.”
The sight of Foden in full flow, creative and scoring delightful goals like the two against Dortmund, has delighted Guardiola and the City faithful, who adore their local hero.
He has admitted trying to get himself “mentally right” after the difficulties of last season.
In the previous 2023-24 campaign, Foden netted 27 goals in all competitions, including 19 in the Premier League as City won an unprecedented fourth title in a row.
It earned him the Player of the Season and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year awards, as well as being named in the PFA Team of the Year.
Foden started all seven games too as he helped England reach the final of the European Championship in July 2024, where they were edged out by Spain 2-1.
But if he is left out by Tuchel again, it will lead to concern about adding to his 45 caps and playing in football’s showpiece international tournament.
Former City and Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown has no doubt as he told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think we have got to look at Foden for England – the full Foden in form, who can be the difference.
“Someone who is mature, who wants it and cool in tight situations. I think he is now at the level to go back into the squad and to push for the manager. He will take on that challenge.
“He is like a big kid when it comes to football, he wants to play and have a ball at his feet. As a manager it was about supporting him and getting on to the pitch in the right position and he has now found it.
“He has to go into the England squad.”
