Phil Foden believes he is playing close to his best form but is uncertain if it will be sufficient for an England recall. The Manchester City midfielder was overlooked for both the World Cup squad and the September international break, having last featured for his country in March.
Foden has scored four goals in his last five appearances for City, ahead of the club's Champions League match against RB Leipzig. England manager Thomas Tuchel is due to announce his squad for Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain on Friday.
"I haven't really spoken to him to be honest," Foden said when asked about discussions with Tuchel regarding his performances. "Football's full of ups and downs and it's one of the things you can't control. You just have to keep putting in performances. Hopefully one day the call-up might come."
Foden's absence from the England pecking order has seen players like Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, and Morgan Gibbs-White preferred at various times over the past year.
Following his red card against Manchester United in September, Foden was sidelined for over a month. He stated that the subsequent break was beneficial, allowing him to return feeling refreshed and sharp. Despite not always securing a starting position in the Premier League, he feels his game is regaining consistency. "I think personally this season has gone really well," Foden added. "Obviously I had the unfortunate red card against United, but the break did me good. I think I came back really fresh in my mind and sharp. I've been involved in a lot of goals recently, so I've been really happy."
City boss Enzo Maresca has acknowledged his role in revitalizing Foden's performance after two less impactful seasons, frequently pitting him against Rayan Cherki for the attacking midfield position. "I see Phil day by day better and better for sure, 100 per cent," Maresca commented. "He is going to give us many things this season. We have many games in all competitions and 20 senior players, all of them very good. It's good to have competition between them. Phil and Rayan are more or less in the same position. I'm very happy in the way Phil is working every day."
In related news, Leipzig coach Martin Demichelis expressed anticipation for his reunion with Maresca, with whom he has a close relationship. Demichelis, a former City defender, noted that Maresca is a winner focused on securing trophies for Manchester City. Demichelis took over at Leipzig in the summer and the team is currently fourth in the Bundesliga. Their Champions League campaign has included mixed results, with significant defeats alongside a victory.