PH I L M Y BOOTS

KDB challenges Foden to take centre stage at City

KEVIN DE BRUYNE has challenged Phil

Foden to develop the consistency and stamina needed to inherit his role as Manchester City’s midfield maestro.

De Bruyne (inset, above) left the Etihad on Sunday after City’s 6-3 destruction of Manchester United clutching Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirt in a plastic bag, despite the Portuguese superstar not making it off the bench.

But it was the performance of his young team-mate Foden (above) that had the Belgian purring about just how good he might become in the next 10 years.

“I can eventually see him playing more centrally when he gets older and gets more stamina,” said De Bruyne. “But for the moment it’s about little details to just find

more consistency in the performances.”

Foden was superb in the derby day demolition job, matching Erling Haaland’s hattrick with the first senior three-goal haul of his career.

For the moment De Bruyne believes that talent is best employed terrorising defences out wide in a role without too many constraints.

But with the Belgium international and fellow midfield conductor Ilkay

Gundogan both 31, he believes that Foden should be looking at becoming the heartbeat of the side in time.

And for De Bruyne that means conducting the play from the middle of the park.

“He’s been playing unbelievably for us so he will be here for a long time and he’s is also going to improve because he’s only 22,” said De Bruyne.

“I know at 22 I wasn’t the player that I am now. He’s so good so it’s just about trying to find consistency.

“What is he not good at? He can play in a lot of different positions but I think eventually he will end up playing centrally in my opinion.

“In this moment in time it is maybe a little bit better for him on the wing to have more freedom and fewer instructions so he flows into the game.”

De Bruyne also praised the effect the summer acquisitions have had on the dressing room.

Erling Haaland’s contribution on the pitch is obvious – his hat-trick on Sunday gave him 17 goals in 10 appearances – but others have also shone, with De Bruyne describing defender Manuel Akanji’s performances as “unreal”.