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Anupam Nath/Associated Press

He spends weekdays learning from David Silva at Manchester City, and on Saturday he inspired England's under-17 side to World Cup glory in India in a stunning 5-2 win over Spain.

It was a moment that underlined England possessing the best emerging talent on the planet, having also won the U20s World Cup and U19s European Championship.

But among all the names that have made an impact, Phil Foden is the face of the next generation.

Pep Guardiola took a shine to Foden from the moment he arrived in Manchester, and figures inside the club are convinced it won't be long before he is a regular face on our TV screens.

So as Foden now revels in his glory with England's young stars, we can reveal the inside story of how this next-generation star was unearthed.

I tracked down the man who spotted his potential almost a decade ago—Joe Makin. He is a City recruitment coordinator and has been waiting for this breakthrough moment since 2008.

Foden was only eight when Makin began to take his talent seriously. For him, this journey has certainly been worth the wait.