Jeremy Doku has come in for praise from BBC pundit Garth Crooks following his lively performance for Manchester City against West Ham United.
The Belgian was handed another start by Pep Guardiola, with Jack Grealish still injured.
Doku made his debut against Fulham before the international break and did OK. He showed glimpses, but Pep Guardiola felt he was a little ‘shy’.
But against West Ham he was really exciting.
Doku saw a lot of the ball and sought to make things happen at every opportunity.
He grabbed the equaliser, which really impressed former City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.
He looks to be a real gem. And he certainly left an impression on Crooks…
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Garth Crooks blown away by Jeremy Doku against West Ham United
Crooks has included Doku in his latest Premier League Team of the Week.
He felt the 21-year’d performance was ‘electric’, and he believes City now have a player who is happy to take people on again, like former stars Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez.
Crooks said of Doku (BBC Sport): “How interesting that, having dispensed with the services of Raheem Sterling at 27 and more recently Riyad Mahrez at 32, City manager Pep Guardiola sold both players for a combined sum more than the price of Doku.
“The 21-year-old looked electric against West Ham and City now have a player once again who is capable of beating full-backs on a regular basis in a way Sterling and Mahrez used to do. Doku set up two gilt-edged chances for Erling Haaland during the first half before slotting the most delightful goal past a stranded Areola.
“Hammers full-back Vladimir Coufal did his best to contain Doku but the winger was just too good on the day.”
Doku is such a refreshing signing
City fans have loved watching the likes Grealish, Mahrez, Phil Foden and Bernardo Siva play in the wide areas in recent times.
But it’s clear that Doku brings something completely different to those players.
The £55 million star is less of a technician and more of a direct winger with a game similar to Sterling and Leroy Sane.
It is very refreshing to watch a player whose first thought is often ‘how can I beat my man?’
It is very possible that Doku could become a real crowd favourite before very long.