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City legend tips youngster as the next big thing for the club

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Former City captain Paul Power has heaped praise on Phil Foden as a future star in the making for the club.

Phil Foden is already taking on a key role at the Etihad Stadium and will become a figure at the club soon enough, says Paul Power.

A prominent role at club level has already been taken on by a talented 20-year-old, who also harbors ambitions of becoming a regular for England’s senior side.

Foden has been tipped for the top ever since City fended off interest from a number of North West rivals to bring him into their academy system.

Power, who racked up almost 450 appearances for City during his playing days, knows well about the 20-year-old having worked with him at youth level.

The City legend says there is more to come from Foden.

“What fills me with a lot of pride at the moment is to see Phil doing really well,” he told the club’s official website.

“When I was working under Jim Cassell as part of the academy coaching set-up, we were all instrumental in helping to get Phil to sign for us as a nine-year-old.

“Everyone knew he was the best player in the North West when he was eight. [Manchester] United and Liverpool and Everton were all interested in signing Phil.

Foden is now up to 84 appearances for City with 18 goals and 14 assists recorded across those outings, and Power believes there is plenty more to come from a player still learning his trade.

He added: “Phil’s already achieved some of his potential, but he’s got a lot more to come.

“Phil’s mentally tough, he works hard, he’s got the right attitude – and he has got the skill and ability to create and score goals. And I would love to think that he can take over from David Silva and be the playmaker that Kun Aguero needs to get chances.

“He’s made mistakes but he’s still very young, he’s still only 20, and he has the right mental make up to achieve what he wants to in football.

“Pep’s looking after him well, he is giving him more and more time on the pitch and I think it’s fantastic that he’s doing so well.

“And it’s also wonderful to see so many of the other young local lads at the club progressing and being given their chance.”

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