Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola explains why 'brilliant' Phil Foden does not start more often

Foden scored twice against Newport in perhaps his most impressive senior performance to date

Phil Foden’s only problem is that he has stiff competition ahead of him in the Manchester City pecking order, Pep Guardiola has said.

Foden scored twice in perhaps his most impressive senior performance to date, helping City to a 4-1 FA Cup win over fourth-tier Newport County at Rodney Parade.

Guardiola described the 18-year-old academy product’s display as “brilliant” and suggested that he is now able to compete for a starting place.

Foden is yet to start a Premier League game for City, however, and has largely been limited to appearances in domestic cups and European dead rubbers so far.

“The only problem I have with Phil is one: he has to compete with Kevin [De Bruyne], Ilkay [Gundogan], David [Silva] and Bernardo [Silva],” Guardiola said.

“But he’s a player who is ready, he’s ready to play. Today was a good test for him, it’s not the fact he cannot run because he runs incredible but it’s the second balls and the long balls. It’s a good test for him and he learnt a lot, I’m sure.

“He helped us to win the game with two incredible goals. This is a guy who is close to the box and has this mentality and ability to score goals. In the training sessions he always scores goals. He was brilliant. He was top.”

Foden himself understands he has to take his opportunites to impress Guardiola as and when they arrive.

“It’s a big squad and everyone wants to show the boss they can start,” he told BBC Sport. “He rotates the squad a lot and he gives people a chance.”