Enzo Maresca believes Phil Foden has shown signs of ending his prolonged dip in form after scoring a hat-trick in Manchester City’s emphatic 5-1 victory over AEK Athens in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Following two difficult seasons, the England international could be approaching a long-awaited return to his best, having delivered an outstanding performance at the Etihad Stadium.

The past period has been challenging for the 26-year-old, who has previously opened up about his struggles with mental health.

Foden had fallen out of favour under former City manager Pep Guardiola and had gone 10 months without scoring before finding the net in Saturday’s Premier League victory over Ipswich.

His campaign has continued to present challenges, including a sending-off during City’s win against Manchester United and a battle to secure a regular starting position under Maresca.

However, injuries within the squad created an opportunity for the midfielder to make his mark against AEK. With Erling Haaland starting on the bench and Antoine Semenyo sidelined for eight weeks, Foden impressed on the left wing before moving into the false nine position to lead City’s attack.

His clinical finishing and versatility provided a timely reminder of his quality, giving Maresca further reason to believe that the talented playmaker is rediscovering his confidence and form.

Maresca expressed his delight at Foden’s performance, highlighting the importance of having the England international back among the team’s key contributors.

“It’s good news for me because you know he is doing well, and this is what we want for many reasons,” the City boss said.

“First of all, because he is a top player and we know that. Happy for him, but also happy for the team that we have one more weapon that we can use.”

Foden’s impressive hat-trick is also likely to attract the attention of England manager Thomas Tuchel as he prepares to select his squad for November’s Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain.

Once regarded as one of England’s most promising talents, Foden was omitted from the national team’s World Cup squad earlier this year, underlining how significantly his standing had declined during his difficult spell.

The midfielder has now ended his wait for a Champions League goal that stretched back to November 2025. However, maintaining this level of performance will be crucial if he hopes to regain the confidence of both Maresca and Tuchel.

His display against AEK represents an encouraging step forward, but consistent performances will ultimately determine whether Foden can re-establish himself as a key figure for club and country.