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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists Phil Foden is the club's 'diamond' amid absence from the team... and reveals he is training like an 'animal' to rediscover his best form

Pep Guardiola has insisted that Phil Foden retains his full trust and backed Manchester City's 'diamond' to recapture his best form.

Out-of-sorts Foden has started just a third of City's matches since the World Cup, amid struggles with an ankle injury.

Guardiola revealed that the 22-year-old asked for time off to recover from the problem and is focused on winning back a spot in City's starting XI.

'He made an incredible effort, playing with pain, and arrived at a moment when he said, 'Pep, I cannot any more', so he had to rest,' Guardiola said.