Kyle Walker says Phil Foden is better than Harry Kane was at his age as he declared the Manchester City midfielder is the best young player he has ever seen.

Foden is widely regarded as one of English football’s brightest prospects and four goals in five games since the Premier League restarted has provided further evidence of his growing status.

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Prior to his arrival at City, Walker was part of an exciting Tottenham Hotspur team which had a host of talented youngsters at its core, including England captain Kane.

He has since established himself as one of the best strikers in the world, but Walker believes Foden is further along in his development as a 20-year-old.

“He is the best youngster I have ever seen,” said the City right-back.

“That is after playing at Tottenham with the likes of Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Andros Townsend, Steven Caulker, Harry Winks, who are very, very good players.

“Phil is leaps ahead of them for me, just because his knowledge of the game.

“I don’t know if it is because he is constantly watching David Silva and learning from him, or just his knowledge of the game.

“I think if he just improves on his final ball, on assisting and his final decision making on that, I think that comes with experience.

“As a player and as a human being, he is top class and I wish him all the best in everything that he does because he deserves it all.”

City found out on Monday that we had successfully overturned UEFA’s two-year ban from European competition, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that we had not breached Financial Fair Play rules.

The ban was originally issued in February and though Walker says it has not been something the players have spoken about, he is delighted he will be able to play in the Champions League next season.

“It wasn’t really being talked about because as players we have a job to do and that is on the pitch,” the 30-year-old explained.

“Anything behind the scenes is completely out of our department. It is obviously fantastic news for the Club.

“I feel that everyone from the kit men, to laundry staff, to us as players, work extremely hard to qualify, at minimum, for the Champions League each year and I think that is what we deserve.

“We are second now in the league and so we should play in the Champions League next year. I am glad it has been overturned and roll on next year!”

City host Bournemouth in our penultimate Premier League home game on Wednesday evening, before attentions turn to the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

Having scored 20 goals and conceded just three in the five league games since football returned, more of the same is the message from Walker.

One eye also remains on the resumption of the Champions League and the second leg of our last 16 tie against Real Madrid.

It is a mouth-watering contest, particularly after our 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg, which Walker feels galvanised the squad.

“That was a special night for us and I think it put us in good stead for the next game,” he added.

“But I think it also gave us the belief that we can actually go out and do something special in this competition.”