WHISPER it quietly but Phil Foden (£6m) is on the rise in Dream Team.
Make no mistake, the Manchester City midfielder has been a disappointment for Dream Team managers for most of the season.
In fact, it could be argued that he has been the biggest flop compared to what he achieved last time around.
Last season, Foden outperformed Bukayo Saka (£6.6m), Cole Palmer (£6.1m), Bruno Fernandes (£6.1m) and every other midfielder as his 27-goal campaign (all competitions) resulted in a haul of prestigious individual awards.
So far in 2024/25, he's mustered five goals and three assists from 22 appearances, with just two goals coming in the Premier League.
In terms of Dream Team points, he's miles off the pace of the frontrunners, 99 shy of Saka and 82 short of Palmer.
However, Dream Team bosses should monitor Foden closely as few players are able to hoover up points at such a rapid rate when everything clicks.
The England international's current ownership of 8.4% is a far cry from the immense popularity he experienced last term but might that number increase ahead of Gameweek 19?
Foden has earned 36 points across the last three Gameweeks, making him one of the most in-form players in his position.
This fruitful burst has featured two goals, an assist and five bonus points.
Most read in Football
His ability to consistently pick up bonus points was a feature of his incredible 203/24 campaign and he ranks tenth among midfielders in the metric this season.
Only four players have registered more accurate crosses than Foden and he wins plenty of fouls without giving many away - add in a pass completion rate of 88% plus some successful dribbles and it's reliable recipe for bonus points.
Many gaffers will want to see a greater upturn in form before they are tempted to recruit the 24 year-old, which is rational given he's still the joint-sixth most expensive player in the game.
But it's a logical time to implement such a switch for those tempted.
Man City are one of just six teams with six fixtures to fulfil across the next three Gameweeks.
UPCOMING MANCHESTER CITY FIXTURES
- GW19: Salford (h), Brentford (a)
- GW20: Ipswich (a), PSG (a)
- GW21: Chelsea (h), Club Brugge (h)
If Foden is able to maintain his current form then it would be reasonable to expect an influx of approximately 40-50 points before the end of the month, accounting for Pep Guardiola's rotation policy.
Whether he is able to sustain his recent returns is unknowable but he should be considered a viable option at this juncture.
Score Predictor
Play Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!
- FREE to play
- £250 weekly prize
- Predict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracy
- Most points wins weekly cash prize