The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Phil to shine in Silva’s place
Pep feels Foden can fill boots
Pep Guardiola is confident Phil Foden can fill the boots of David Silva at Manchester City.
Foden, 19, is set for a rare start as City wrap up their Champions League Group C campaign against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
Veteran playmaker Silva has not travelled due to injury but, as he has already announced he is to leave the club at the end of the season, it could be a foretaste of the future.
Foden has long been earmarked as the natural successor to Silva but he has had to wait patiently for his opportunities so far.
City boss Guardiola said: “That is our wish (that he can replace Silva). Of course David is a legend, with the amount of games and titles he has won, but it’s our wish and we believe he can do it.
“He’s growing from last season. There are still some departments he can improve. Sometimes he takes decisions with character and spirit because he is so young, but sometimes he has to think a bit more about decision-making, especially without the ball.
“But it’s normal with his age. His development is perfect. We are more than satisfied with what he is doing with his training and when he plays.”
City have nothing riding on the game in Croatia, having already secured top spot in the group and their place in the last 16.
Defender Eric Garcia, 18, is another youngster set to be given an opportunity. City’s problems at centre-back have continued with John Stones suffering a hamstring injury in the loss to Manchester United on Saturday and he is facing a spell out. Fernandinho is also suspended for the Dinamo clash.
Meanwhile, Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho will give his fringe players the chance to impress in their closing Champions League group stage game with Bayern Munich.
Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Jan Vertonghen and Serge Aurier have all been left at home for the dead rubber in Group B today, where both teams have already qualified for the knockout stages.
A host of players who have yet to feature with any regularity will get the chance at the Allianz Arena and Mourinho has challenged them to make an impression.
“One thing that I am not having is time, when I say time, I mean to know all my players well,” he said.
“This is a great opportunity for some of them to play, for some of them to show what they are capable of.
Bayern are confirmed as group winners, having won their first five games, including a 7-2 hammering of Spurs in the reverse fixture in October.
As well as the quartet rested, Spurs will be without Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele,hugolloris,bendavies,erik Lamela and Michel Vorm.