Paul Scholes says Phil Foden is already a "better player" than Premier League legend

Paul Scholes claims Phil Foden is already "a much better footballer" than one of his former England colleagues.

Foden churned in a sensational two-goal performance for Manchester City in the 3-1 derby win over rivals United on Sunday.

With City trailing 1-0 to a Marcus Rashford stunner seven minutes in, the 23-year-old came up with an incredible strike of his own to level matters.

He cut in from the right and lashed one into the top corner with his left foot, before combining with Julian Alvarez down the left to put City in the lead.

Foden now has 18 goals this season, including 11 in the Premier League.

He managed the same tally in the league in the whole of last season and has been arguably City's most consistent performer this term.

And former United midfielder Scholes showered him with praise, stating that Foden is more talented than Frank Lampard but is now scoring the important goals like the Chelsea legend did on a regular basis.

Lampard is fifth in the all-time Premier League goalscoring chants and the highest-ranked midfielder.

Speaking on Premier League Productions, he said: "Look, he’s a better footballer than Frank Lampard but Frank Lampard scored goals and won leagues for his club from midfield.

"You expect centre-forwards to do it. Haaland, you just expect his numbers, you expect Michael’s [Owen] numbers when the team is doing well.

"But from a midfield point of view, you’ve really got to take the game by the scruff of the neck and say: “Right, I’m going to get us back into this game, I’m going to win us leagues, I’m going to win us games!”

"I think Frank Lampard was like that and I think Phil Foden is starting to do that, goals-wise.

"Look, Phil Foden is a much better footballer than Frank Lampard was, don’t get me wrong, but Frank won leagues for his team because of the contribution he made in midfield, in big games especially, and with Phil Foden I think we’re seeing the same type of thing."

Foden has won five Premier League titles for City since making his debut in 2017.

He's racked up over 250 appearances for his boyhood club and produced a number of scintillating displays.

But it feels as though he has found another gear this season, coming up clutch for his side.

Pep Guardiola called him "the best player in the Premier League right now" and says Foden is now "more mature" in his understanding of the game.

Featured Image Credit: Getty & Premier League Productions

Topics: Paul Scholes, Phil Foden, Manchester City, Frank Lampard, Chelsea

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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