Phil Foden made his first Premier League start in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Cardiff - and the inclusion of the young midfielder in City’s starting line up meant he became the youngest English player to start a league game for the club since Daniel Sturridge in January 2008.
But Pep Guardiola can’t allow Phil Foden to follow in the same footsteps as Daniel Sturridge, who was also City’s most exciting youth prospect before leaving the club in 2009.
Sturridge, like Foden, was always tipped to make it to the top and after arriving at City’s academy at 13 years old and wasted no time in showcasing his raw ability.
Sturridge soon progressed through City’s ranks and his rise was meteoric.
In the 2007/08 season Sturridge became the only player to score in the FA Youth Cup, the FA Cup and the Premier League in the same season and Foden’s ascension to the first team has been similarly impressive.
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Foden has broken records himself too and most recently became City's youngest Champions League goalscorer and the similarities between the pair are hard to ignore.
On the back of Sturridge’s breakthrough season, he was crowned Manchester City's young player of the year but the following summer, after having his path to the first team blocked and demanding higher wages, he would leave for Chelsea on a free.
Speaking to Soccer AM, Sturridge revealed his stance on his departure:
“They (City fans) have a perception of me leaving for money, but I feel the opportunity was never there for me.
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"They bought a lot of centre-forwards at the time. I think they had seven or eight players in the time I was there that they bought in my position, so I didn't think my chances were at that club.” He said.
Sturridge felt there was too many high-quality players ahead of him in the pecking order to get sufficient game time on the pitch, and that echoes Foden’s situation to an extent.
Although Foden has been handed opportunities by Guardiola, as he gets older and progresses he will undoubtedly want more time on the pitch.
In the coming seasons it’s imperative, as Foden matures, for Guardiola to find a regular spot for the youngster to ensure he doesn’t follow in Sturridge’s footsteps by leaving the club.
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