THRILL FODEN

YAYA TOURE has hailed Phil Foden as Manchester City’s future.

Foden replacing Toure (above) to make his City debut at 17 years and 177 days and become the club’s youngest Champions League player felt hugely symbolic.

City’s glorious past in Toure, 34, was handing over the baton to their exciting future in Foden.

And the Blues legend is confident the years ahead look rosy in Foden’s hands.

“It’s fantastic for him and he’s going to be the future,” said Toure. “He’s very important.

“The team keeps changing and the club moves forward, so it’s very important players come through.

“I hope, and I think, he will stay for a long time and we will see a great player in the future.”

Foden seemed destined to star for

City and the midfielder was born in Stockport in May 2000, the month the Blues won promotion back to the Premier

League under Joe

Royle.

The player of the tournament when England won the Under-17 World Cup last month, he is their first millennial and Toure believes he can blossom if he learns from the talents around him.

“He listens to me because I am old!” joked Toure, who is twice Foden’s age.

“If he stays in this club, he is going to be one of the top players because it’s always good to learn from big players.

“They are going to give him more experience and confidence for the future.

“When I was at Barcelona, I learned a lot and won trophies because of the players around me.”

The fans love Foden as one of their own and gave him a fantastic reception when he came on against Feyenoord on Tuesday evening.

“That meant everything,” Foden smiled. “I’ve waited so long for this opportunity and for it finally to come, meant everything to me.” City’s senior players could learn from Foden’s attitude and Pep Guardiola gave them ‘the hairdryer’ because of their disappointing display in their 1-0 win over the Dutchmen, which nevertheless clinched top spot in Group F.

Guardiola will never accept anything less than their best and Toure admitted they eased off. “The manager at the end was quite angry with the team,” he said. “We can do better than that.

“It’s human nature that sometimes you are a little bit lazy, that you think you’re super and arrogance c a n go to your head, especially when you are young.

“You look beautiful and think you’re going to be the best. You saw Feyenoord, they were difficult and we needed to be better.”

If he stays in this club, he is going to be one of the top players