Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is adamant Phil Foden and Kevin de Bruyne can thrive together.

Foden has been superb in De Bruyne's absence, with the Belgian making his playing return in Sunday's FA Cup win against Huddersfield Town.

On the midfield pair, Guardiola said: “In some games they can play and in some games we have to struggle a little bit.

“Always I am a big fan first of the talent, so why can't their talent be joined together?

“When I was in Barcelona people used to say, 'no, Xavi and Iniesta - these guys cannot play together' and I said, why not? Why not? They are good, they are intelligent and smart and normally we associate that talent with they cannot defend - this is not true.

“But at the same time, for our structure, for 4-4-2, we have to change something if we have to defend and need physicality but some games, in the second half we put a lot of talent in the central positions."

He also said of De Bruyne's return: “Kevin is not going to solve the problems that we have, and we are not going to have victories unless we are all together.

“Kevin will help us with his talent and can help us in the things we are getting better at - he can handle the pressure, we know that, but I don't want to put pressure on Kevin's shoulders because it's not fair on him.

“He has a special quality that is difficult to find, and we have known each other a long time - we have players like Erling, Phil, Bobb, Doku and Matheus who love to run in behind and have players find them with passes and Kevin is exceptional at this.

“That's why first we are pleased he is back after three or four months out with injury and is fresh in his mind and played really good minutes as he showed with the quality of the assist for the fifth goal, so yeah, it's really good to have him back."