Foden ends 10-month goal drought as Man City ease past Ipswich in Premier League

Phil Foden ended a 10-month Premier League scoring drought as Manchester City beat Ipswich Town at the Etihad, the England midfielder netting for the first time since a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on 14 December last year.

Foden’s return from a one-month absence — he had been suspended following a red card at Old Trafford — was marked by a goal that visibly meant a great deal to him. He celebrated with a clenched fist, acknowledged Jeremy Doku, who provided the assist, and then stood in front of the south stand pointing at the City badge in a show of unity with supporters.

“Definitely due one,” Foden said of finally breaking his scoring duck.

The goal itself was well taken, though Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton will feel he could have done better. More encouraging for City was what followed: Foden looked liberated, moving with freedom, showing consistently for possession and making a driving run in support of Erling Haaland early in the second half. When Marc Guehi stretched for options from his defensive third, it was Foden who found space to receive and play a quick pass to Josko Gvardiol — the kind of instinctive movement that had been missing from his game.

The context makes the drought all the more striking. That Palace goal in December was the sixth in just five games during a purple patch that briefly made Foden one of the most dangerous players in the division. Three of his fellow midfielders from that day have since left the club, City have a new manager, and the goal drought stretched across an entire second half of the season in which he struggled even for starts.

A single goal against Ipswich is not enough to guarantee Foden a permanent place ahead of Rayan Cherki in the number 10 role, but the signs were encouraging. He was replaced after 77 minutes to a warm reception from the Etihad crowd and will be hoping to build on the performance when AEK Athens visit in the Champions League on Tuesday.