PHIL FODEN became Manchester City’s top goal scorer in all competitions this season after he scored against Brighton on Wednesday night.
But as talented as the youngster is, the fact City’s top scorer is ranked just 23RD in the Premier League’s highest scorers table in mid January shows just how much they miss Sergio Aguero.
England international Foden, 20, scored the only goal of the game as City downed the Seagulls 1-0 at the Etihad.
The strike was his eighth for the club in all competitions this term and his fourth in the Prem.
Liverpool’s Mo Salah tops the table so far with 13 league goals and Tottenham’s Heung-min Son is just one behind on 12.
But West Ham’s Tomas Soucek, Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi and Brighton’s Neal Maupay have all scored more Prem goals than any City player this season.
Foden is now level with Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling for league goals.
And he is one above Sterling and Ferran Torres overall with the joint-second placed pair both on seven in all competitions for City.
But despite Foden’s clear improvement this season, City are still struggling without Aguero’s goals.
At this stage last season – 16 games in – City had scored 44 Prem goals which is nearly double the paltry 25 they have managed so far.
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Aguero – who has not scored a single Prem goal this season having missed much of the campaign with a persistent knee injury – had nine after 16 games last season.
Foden has stepped up to the plate as he had not scored in the league at this stage in 19-20 and Pep Guardiola will hope his young superstar continues to contribute.
The City boss has played Gabriel Jesus instead of Aguero as well as deploying Kevin De Bruyne as a ‘false 9’ but the Argentine’s absence is proving almost impossible to account for.
Foden’s matchwinner against Brighton arrived just moments before the break and was enough to take the Cityzens up to third in the table.
But his goal was not his only highlight of the game.
The feet from Foden here!
A double roulette to beat two men…
pic.twitter.com/23b18ePLDa
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 13, 2021
The most magical moment of the night occurred when the midfielder completely humiliated two Brighton defenders.
It was during the second half when the starlet found himself under-pressure from Davy Propper and Adam Webster.
With no options available, he looked set to lose possession before he left viewers – including England legend Gary Lineker – open-mouthed with a brilliant double roulette.
The skill took him away from both opponents before he was fouled to win a free-kick – with the Match of the Day host describing it as ‘filth’.
