Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is adamant Phi Foden deserves to be a contender for this season's Player of the Season awards.

Foden and City go to Crystal Palace today on the back of his hat-trick in the midweek win against Aston Villa.

Guardiola said: “I think he is a contender, like many others.

“There are many, many players who play really, really good all season. Not just Phil.

“But I think he can be a contender, for sure, because of the numbers, consistency and the level of his game.

“Always he has [an] incredible work ethic.

“You see the last game he played [against Villa]? He was fouled, it was not given, he go down, stand up, press, recover the ball and net.

“Always Phil had that. From the day one, at 16/17 years old training, having an incredible dynamic and he still has it.

“But of course, football [is] defensive [and] offensive. Like I said before, your quality depends on the performance of your mates.

“How you move depends on the decisions of your mates, you have to take a decision quicker and after, smarter.

“And always there is margin to improve."