Pep Guardiola says versatile Phil Foden 'will keep improving' after star turn at Brighton

Manchester City youngster nets brace in 4-1 win over Seagulls after being deployed as a wide forward

Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates scoring their second goal against Brighton with Ilkay Gundogan. City won the match 4-1 at Amex Stadium on October 23, 2021. Reuters

Riyad Mahrez celebrates with teammates Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, Rodrigo, Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho of Manchester City after scoring their team's fourth goal. Getty

Phil Foden of Manchester City battles for possession with Joel Veltman and Tariq Lamptey of Brighton & Hove Albion. Getty Images

Phil Foden of Manchester City runs with the ball. Getty Images

Phil Foden of Manchester City battles for possession with Jakub Moder of Brighton & Hove Albion. Getty Images

Phil Foden celebrates with Jack Grealish of Manchester City after scoring their team's second goal. Getty Images

Phil Foden of Manchester City reacts after scoring their team's second goal. Getty Images

Phil Foden of Manchester City has his shot blocked by Robert Sanchez of Brighton. Getty Images

Brighton & Hove Albion's Lewis Dunk and Robert Sanchez look dejected after Manchester City's Phil Foden scored their third goal. Reuters

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan scores their first goal. Reuters

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan. Reuters

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez protests following Manchester City's opening goal. AFP

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez protests following Manchester City's opening goal. AFP

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates. Reuters

Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Ruben Dias. Reuters

Pep Guardiola says Phil Foden can only get better after his star showing from a wide forward role in Manchester City's 4-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

The England international was twice on target at the Amex Stadium, making him City's top scorer in the Premier League this season with three goals.

Foden appeared primed to be take over David Silva's mantle as City creator-in-chief when the Spanish midfielder left the club last year, but the 21-year-old is excelling in an altogether different role for his side this season.

"He can play left winger, which is a good position, and right winger, which is a good position for him," Guardiola said.

"Phil is a player who can play in different positions but especially up front because he has the quality and the precision. He had many chances to score in recent games but he is young and will keep improving."

It was Foden's second top-flight brace - although both had an air of fortuity after Ben White looked to get the last touch for Foden's first while Gabriel Jesus' shot deflected off his teammate to wrong foot Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

They City graduate has impressed in a number of roles for club and country over the past 18 months, excelling as a central midfield playmaker, as he proved when impressing for England against Andorra this month, but it seems for City he can have a greater impact out wide.

"I'm enjoying it," Foden told the BBC when asked about his new wide role.

"I can drop deep and get the ball and pick the passes off. It's a new role for me and I can say I'm really enjoying it.

"It changes game-to-game. Sometimes I stay higher than normal, but this game they went man-to-man so I dropped a bit deeper and I thought we used the extra man well."

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Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring despite Brighton's pleas for a foul on Sanchez in the build-up before Foden's double sent them into the break with a 3-0 lead.

Brighton will take heart from a second-half performance that showed their early season form is not a blip, although City did come to life after Mac Allister's late goal.

City wrapped up the win when an unmarked Riyad Mahrez rifled home in stoppage time as the visitors moved back to within two points of leaders Chelsea while Brighton remain fourth on 15 points.

"I was impressed with everybody in reference to the second half," said Brighton boss Graham Potter.

"I wouldn't want to single anyone out, the first goal was soft from our perspective. I couldn't have been more proud of the boys and what they gave."