Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden resembles a "five-a-side player playing 11-a-side" and possesses a certain type of skill typically associated with talents from Spain and Portugal, believes Micah Richards.
Foden came off the bench to provide the assist for Raheem Sterling's match-sealing goal as City secured an FA Cup semi-final showdown against Chelsea with a comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday.
His impressive 30-minute cameo came less than a week after a standout performance against Burnley, where the 20-year-old's brace provided an emphatic reminder that City are in good hands regardless of David Silva's imminent departure.
But former City player Richards explained why - despite the comparisons - Foden is a different type of player to the Spaniard.
"A lot of people talk about David Silva; I think he's a little bit different to David Silva," Richards said on BBC Sport.
"He likes to get in the opposition's half a lot more and try to get in the final third and try to score a lot more than David Silva.
"He can see a pass, he's got terrific skill; he's like a five-a-side player playing in 11-a-side. He's just incredible."
Richards insists Foden's ability on the ball is not what you'd expect from an Englishman and believes the midfielder will continue to progress.
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"It's good to see a young English talent who has got this sort of skill," he said. "Normally, we see a player with this sort of skill coming from a Spain or a Portugal.
"His confidence is growing and growing. Pep's [Guardiola] come out and said he doesn't want to sign anyone else in that position, and I think he's the man that can step up."