Pep Guardiola claims Phil Foden has ‘goals in his veins’ as he heaps praise on Manchester City’s hat-trick hero… and promises more from him ‘if City don’t play s***’!

Phil Foden has ‘goals in his veins’ and a ‘gift’ that can see him become one of the best in the business, according to Pep Guardiola.

The 23-year-old hit a sublime hat-trick, the third of his career in the Premier League, to topple Aston Villa and get Man City’s title bid back on track after the disappointment of a weekend draw to Arsenal.

Asked what Foden has done to take a goalscoring leap this season, Guardiola was loathe to take credit away from the England star.

‘Phil in a central position has a sense of goals. In that position he gets goals and assists,’ he said.

‘He can do whatever he wants. I think he’s a really top class player and we know it. He’s open minded, he still has to focus on the things, sometimes he’s distracted with what to do defensively, but he has a natural talent, a gift. He’s so special when he’s in a central position.

Phil Foden scored a sublime hat-trick to pull off a classy win against Aston Villa at the Etihad

Foden was second on the scoresheet for City after his free-kick went through the wall

In the absence of the benched Kevin De Bruyne (left) and Erling Haaland (right), the England international shone

‘He has goals in his veins, and we have to use him.’

Foden started poorly in the opinion of Guardiola but found his groove after a brilliant free-kick put City 2-1 ahead.

His second saw him escape the vision of any Villa defender as he waltzed into the area while his third was a thunderbolt from distance. Goals, particularly on a night like this with Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland relegated to the substitutes’ bench, have been on his mind this season.

‘I see myself as a really technical player in the pockets,’ Foden said.

‘Out wide I think I can do that job but I prefer to do it in the middle. This year I am growing into the game.

‘The manager spoke on showing rhythm and slowing the game down so I think I have added that to my game too. Before I was going so quickly, attacking every action. But now I am getting the balance just right.

‘I always try to arrive in the box, that is where the goals are. You get at least five a season arriving in the box late.

‘I’ve been working on all aspects of my game in midfield, but like I said still a lot to improve on and I’m still growing in that position.’

If City ‘don’t play s**t’ more goals for Foden will follow, according to Guardiola, who was plenty chipper about the latest masterclass from the Stockport-born playmaker.

‘I’m just loving my football at the moment, playing with a smile on my face and trying to help the team. I know I am capable of scoring goals, and today I showed that so I am delighted,’ Foden added, speaking to TNT Sports.

Pep Guardiola was bullish about Foden’s chances of netting even more before the season’s end

Rodri echoed praise for Foden, stressing that his team-mate ‘grows every single year’

‘I always set myself [the aim] to do better than last season, get more goal contributions. I think I am up this year so I’m doing well.’

Rodri, who was again masterful in running the show here, echoed the praise of his manager on a night that was all about Foden.

‘With this player he grows every single year,’ the Spaniard said.

‘He can score whatever he wants, arriving in the box, he has a special quality, three today and so happy for him.’