Foden, 18, has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past 12 months, helping England win the U17 World Cup in India where he scored twice in the final and was awarded the Golden Ball prize, before establishing himself as a regular member of Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad.
He made 10 appearances last term, and has already managed seven this season, scoring his first goal for the Club in the win over Oxford last month.
And speaking to CityTV ahead of Thursday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round tie at home to Fulham, Zinchenko was full of praise for his Blues teammate.
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“I think he is the most talented young player in Europe right now,” he said.
“For him it is so important to stay humble, work hard every day. He’s growing up.”
The game against Fulham sees City continue the defence of the Carabao Cup, which we won in February after a fine 3-0 win over Arsenal in the final at Wembley.
It provided a platform for further success, with City going on to lift the Premier League title after a record-breaking campaign.
Zinchenko says a Club of City’s stature should be trying to win every competition available – and believes the game against Fulham is a good opportunity for some of our fringe players to show what they can do.
“Of course, we have a lot of players who didn’t play the last few weeks, and everyone wants to get the chance to show yourself, to show your maximum,” he said.
“We are Man City, that’s why for us every competition is so important.”
Fulham, newly-promoted to the Premier League, are currently languishing in 18th position in the Premier League table.
But Zinchenko says it would be foolish to underestimate a side as well-organised as the Londoners.
“Of course, it’s going to be a tough game because Fulham play well,” he said.
“They are defensively organised very well, and always against them it is not so easy.”
