Phil Foden returns to Man City training after appendix surgery
By Tom Gott
Phil Foden took part in full Manchester City training on Tuesday as he seeks to return from appendix surgery ahead of schedule.
The Englishman was forced to miss the March international break after requiring emergency surgery to remove his appendix and was initially expected to miss around four weeks of action - likely the entirety of April.
However, Foden was back in training on Tuesday ahead of the trip to Germany to face Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final. He missed the first leg, a resounding 3-0 victory, but may be in line for a return on Wednesday.
Foden has been City's only absentee in recent weeks but his return now gives manager Pep Guardiola a full squad to choose from as he prepares for an end to the season in which the Citizens are competing for three trophies.
Should all go according to plan, Foden should be available for the season-defining visit from Premier League leaders Arsenal on April 26.
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Phil Foden's struggles in 2022/23
Last season, Foden was a regular starter under Guardiola, often lining up as a false-nine striker while City awaited the arrival of Erling Haaland.
With Haaland taking the role up top this season and Jack Grealish excelling out on the left wing, opportunities have been hard to come by for Foden. He lost his place in the starting lineup in October and, despite dipping in and out of the team, was not a regular fixture in lineup until February.
He managed four successive starts in the Premier League, taking up a position on the right and chipping in with two goals and an assist, before a case of appendicitis brought his momentum to an abrupt end.
That spot on the right wing still seems to be up for grabs in Guardiola's new 3-2-4-1 setup. Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and even Kyle Walker have been deployed there, but there appears to be place for Foden to wrestle his way back into the lineup once again if he can rediscover his best form.
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