Pep Guardiola has seen Phil Foden as a cut above in recent weeks in everything he has done at Manchester City.
After not starting a league game between October and December, the 20-year-old has been almost immovable from the team in recent weeks with five starts in the last six matches in all competitions, and was the man of the match as the Blues beat Brighton.
Guardiola has been impressed by what he has seen on the pitch, but has put him there because of what he has seen from the midfielder off it. While the City boss didn't want to suggest Foden was a shoe-in for the delayed Euro 2020, he will continue to get a game with him if he keeps up those standards.
"I said many times about Phil - just look at his age, number of games, number of goals, number of assists, number of kilometres run for the team.
"It speaks for itself.
"I am delighted with another good performance, he is close to the goal and has a special instinct not just with the left foot but the right and he deserves to play. His standards are higher, that is why he deserves to play.
"I try to judge the team on the recent past and I had the feeling that he lives his life 24 hours to play football.
"With today, there are a lot of distractions in life - less because we have to be at home - but a lot of distractions but you see his face and he is happy in training or when he is playing games.
"When that happens, everyone can see it in his performance."
