Paul Scholes has hailed Phil Foden’s contribution to Manchester City’s title challenge this season, insisting he is already a ‘better player’ than a Premier League legend.
Foden produced a match-winning performance in the Manchester Derby on Sunday, with 23-year-old’s brace helping Pep Guardiola‘s side come from behind to earn a 3-1 win.
The 23-year-old opened his account for the day with a stunning long-range strike to pull his side level – after Marcus Rashford’s spectacular opener – before the England star found the back of the net again in the 80th minute.
Erling Haaland sealed the victory over Manchester United last on.
Man United legend Scholes joined the plaudits for Foden’s performance by comparing the midfielder to Chelsea and England great Frank Lampard.
Scholes insisted that Foden is an overall better player, but believes the Man City star has now added the match winning qualities Lampard demonstrated throughout his career.
‘This season he [Foden] has taken it to a new level, where his goals at important times are potentially winning league titles,’ Scholes said on Premier League Productions.
‘That is when you take your game to another level, he is still 23 and there is still so much to come from him, he has become a league winner.
‘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 Owen’s 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.
‘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.’
This season, Foden has netted 18 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions, including 11 in the Premier League.
The comparison with Scholes is a huge compliment, as Lampard, who won three titles, is the sixth most prolific scorer in Premier League history with 177 goals, the highest number achieved by a midfielder.
Man City’s win in the derby kept them one point behind the leaders Liverpool, with Foden aiming to clinch his sixth league title since joining the first team squad.
Guardiola has hailed Foden as the best player in the Premier League this season, and said his ability to influence games in crucial moments reminds him of a young Messi.