Manchester City players privately worried about Phil Foden as truth emerges about mental fatigue and off-pitch issues | OneFootball

Manchester City players have expressed concerns over Phil Foden amidst the England forward’s struggles on the pitch, as per a new report.

Foden has gone amiss for the Premier League champions this term and has failed to replicate his heights from last season, when he led Manchester City to a fourth successive league title and was voted the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

The 24-year-old has still scored 10 times and provided six assists in 38 appearances this season – albeit good output for a player undergoing a drop-off in form by their own standards – but it has now been revealed that issues off the pitch have held Foden back of late.

As detailed by Mail Online journalist Jack Gaughan, Foden is believed to have suffered from physical issues that have derailed him from hitting his peak.

Many figures within the Manchester City dressing room – who are themselves no strangers to a drop in form this season – has privately relayed concerns about Foden, who has also been affected by social media criticism of his performances.

The Stockport-born Manchester City academy graduate is understood to keep across social media and what is being said and written about him, having previously admitted to suffering from ‘mental fatigue’ and brain fog in training sessions.

The turn of the year has been a good omen for Foden, who has appeared to have rediscovered his old form in glimpses after a lacklustre start to the season.

It is unlikely that officials at the Etihad Stadium would be worried about Foden’s issues translating onto the pitch into the new season, with the England international still very highly-rated at the club and by manager Pep Guardiola.

What is of primary importance is that Foden has the necessary mental health support to recover from his fatigue – and Guardiola will know he needs to give one of his best players ample time and space to rest and recover to get going again next season.