Phil Foden is averaging a goal or assist every other appearance for Manchester City this season, but don't tell Manchester United or Liverpool fans.
The academy product has only failed to feature in five of City's 32 games all season, with 20 starts. His return of nine goals and five assists has helped the recent 20-game unbeaten run, and Foden's form has been so impressive he has displaced Raheem Sterling from his usual left wing position.
Foden is showing the benefits of City's long-term plan for him, with Pep Guardiola insisting for years that the first team squad is the best place for his development. Talk of loan moves were always knocked back, and City took criticism from outside the club for the limited playing time given to Foden when a number of his England under-20 and under-21 teammates were getting much more playing time.
Look at United, who elevated Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood last season to relatively prominent roles. If there was an occasion where either played ahead of Foden, Twitter would be full of opposition keyboard fans declaring that their young talents are better - or at least being managed better - because they were getting more first team minutes.
It's the same with Liverpool, with fans in Merseyside shouting at the rooftops that they have a better prospect in Curtis Jones than City have in Foden. In fairness, Jones has risen to be a key squad member for Liverpool, with injuries this season giving the talented midfielder more responsibility. Will he get near the starting XI when all players are back from injury?
Regular comparisons are made with Foden and Chelsea's Mason Mount, with the fellow England international a favourite under former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard and impressing in the early days of Thomas Tuchel's reign. Mount is one of few young English attacking midfielders who has played more than Foden - but the City man has been more productive with goals and assists in fewer appearances than Mount.
Foden recently passed 100 City appearances, still at just 20 years of age. His 1834 minutes played so far this season is already his best return in terms of playing time in a season compared to the three full seasons he's been involved with the first team. This season, Foden has been used more than Kevin De Bruyne and Joao Cancelo, with only Rodri, Ruben Dias and Raheem Sterling playing more at City.
Last season, Foden trailed the likes of Williams, Greenwood and Jones for game time. This season he's well clear of all three.
Given Foden's improvement as he repays Pep Guardiola faith in his long-term prospects, it's unlikely you will see many rival fans doubt whether Foden is really as good as City say.
The only way you will see those suggestions on social media is City fans digging up posts from last season kindly nudging supporters of other sides to revise their criticism of Guardiola's plan for Foden. It's proving City were right all along, and maybe some were too quick to doubt a strategy that Guardiola always knew would come good.
