Phil Foden is seeking talks with England and Manchester City to devise a period of rest this summer after the toughest season of his career.
The midfielder, who turns 25 next week, admitted to ‘mental fatigue’ earlier in the campaign and has revealed off-field issues have hampered his performances.
Foden is also carrying ligament damage in his ankle, sustained during the dour Manchester derby in early April, and has only featured for 105 minutes since.
The summer schedule is packed, with England internationals coming in the days before City travel to the United States for the newly expanded Club World Cup.
But Foden is looking for a break to recharge and put the season behind him.
‘I just need a few weeks off it without playing football and obviously I can’t get it at the moment,’ he said. ‘It’s a difficult situation for me with the internationals right around the corner.
‘It’s something we have to speak with the club and national team to see maybe if it’s better to rest and get my ankle fully 100 per cent to back how I want it.
‘I just don’t know at the moment, it’s a conversation to be had and we’ll see what happens.’
Foden had started this term as the PFA Players’ Player of the Year but managed 10 goals and six assists in 44 appearances – with his seven Premier League goals coming in the space of a month.
The academy graduate has again hinted at problems away from the pitch while also claiming that the ankle issue was significantly worse than supporters realise.
‘The ankle has taken time to heal,’ he said. ‘I somehow managed to play on at United. That’s the kind of person I am, I try to play on with anything. I remember how much pain I felt when the adrenaline died down.
‘A lot of people don’t know what football players have to go through and play with. I’ve had a lot of pain and playing with it in the last couple of months. Maybe I came back too early. But it’s what I’m like. I’m feeling a lot better now and can really push on with it.
‘It’s been a frustrating season for me. I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally.
‘Sometimes there are things in life that are bigger than football. I’ve struggled a little bit.
‘Hopefully next year I can get my head mentally right and get back to where I left off the season before because I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have.’
Thomas Tuchel names his second England squad on Friday morning ahead of a World Cup qualifier with Andorra at Espanyol on June 7 and a friendly against Senegal three days later.
The German has previously suggested that he will not be doing Premier League clubs any favours when picking teams.
City’s Club World Cup tournament begins in Philadelphia against Wydad on June 18, with Pep Guardiola’s squad going on a camp near Miami in the five days beforehand. Foden indicated that he wants to play for City.
‘It’s obviously difficult because the lads are mentally drained from this season,’ Foden added. ‘Everyone needs the right time to recover. Obviously there will be this competition that’s coming up.
‘It’s going to be a funny one, some clubs will take it more seriously than others but I know City and the club we are, we’ll definitely take it seriously.
‘I’ve left it in the back of my mind to be honest until the season’s finished. For myself it will be somewhere I look at to get going for the season. I’m just looking forward to seeing what it’s like and playing against top teams.’
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