Manchester City secured a comfortable victory at the London Stadium, defeating West Ham United with a 3-1 scoreline, largely thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from Erling Haaland.
Despite their dominance, City couldn’t maintain a clean sheet as the Hammers managed to score once.
However, the only goal West Ham could muster came from an unfortunate own goal by Ruben Dias, rather than from their own attacking efforts.
Notably absent from City’s lineup was one of their key players, Phil Foden, who missed the match due to illness.
His ongoing health issues have raised concerns about his availability for England’s upcoming international fixtures in September, despite being named in the squad by interim manager Lee Carsley.
Foden’s limited participation so far in the 2024/25 season has left fans and management alike questioning whether he will be ready to contribute when England faces the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, addressed Foden’s situation, expressing hope that the midfielder would be fit and ready to return after the international break.
However, Guardiola was cautious in his optimism, noting that while Foden had shown signs of improvement, he was not yet back to full health.
Guardiola revealed that Foden had played 45 minutes in a previous match against Chelsea but had struggled afterward, leading to further medical evaluations.
Although Foden’s condition has improved, he still doesn’t feel completely well, prompting Guardiola to suggest that it might be best for him to take the time needed to recover fully before rejoining the squad.
Foden’s absence has been felt, as he has only managed to participate for 45 minutes in City’s ongoing campaign, missing key victories against Ipswich Town and West Ham.
Should he recover in time after the break, Foden is expected to be part of the Manchester City squad that will face Brentford on 14 September.
His return could be crucial as City looks to maintain their strong start to the season.
Meanwhile, Lee Carsley, who is currently leading the England national team on an interim basis, is preparing for two important matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland on 7 and 10 September, respectively.
Despite including Foden in his squad for these fixtures, there remains uncertainty over whether the midfielder will be fit enough to play.
Foden’s fitness will be closely monitored as the dates approach, with a final decision likely dependent on his recovery progress in the coming days.
This latest update on Foden’s condition is part of a broader narrative surrounding Manchester City’s early season form and player availability, with the club also facing various challenges in other areas.
Guardiola and his team will be keen to have Foden back to full fitness as soon as possible, both for City’s domestic campaign and for his potential contributions to England’s international fixtures.
As City continues to push for success across multiple fronts, the hope is that Foden’s situation will improve and that he will soon be back to his best, aiding both club and country in their respective goals.