Foden cannot be sure of World Cup place, warns Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel has warned Phil Foden he cannot be certain of going to the World Cup after a series of underwhelming displays for England.

Foden has been in indifferent form for club and country this season.

The 25-year-old has netted 10 times in all competitions for Manchester City, making him the club's second-highest scorer (after Erling Haaland, 30), but has not provided a goal involvement since scoring and assisting against Fulham in mid-February.

Filling in for the absent Harry Kane for England against Japan on Tuesday, Foden failed to have a shot or create a chance. He also struggled to make an impact in last week's draw with Uruguay.

And though he is appreciative of Foden's attitude, Tuchel has said the playmaker cannot be sure of a place in his squad for the World Cup.

"Well, it's not a guarantee that he will come," Tuchel told reporters after the defeat to Japan.

"Obviously he didn't have a lot of minutes for City recently, then he came to camp with the brightest smile and was so good in training.

"And I thought he will just surprise us and will play with the same verve and excitement but he struggles to have the full impact."

Foden has started just four of Man City's last 15 games.

"I learn [about the players] all the time," Tuchel added.

"I learn from every training session, and I learn from how the squad is together and I learn from how the players react to the gameplan and how they adapt.

"How quick they can learn and how quick they can adapt and how they can put it on the pitch. Everything is a learning."

England take on New Zealand and Costa Rica in pre-tournament friendlies prior to the World Cup. They have been drawn against Croatia, Ghana and Panama in their group.