Doku follows in footsteps of wing wonders

A LOW centre of gravity, a dogged persistence to keep the ball, and a desire to stand his defender up before dropping a shoulder and thinking past them.

- JOE BRAY

City have not had a winger like that since the electric days of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling's wing partnership that was cut short by the former's injury in 2019.

Sterling remained at the club for another three years, before leaving for Chelsea, where he might be starting to show signs of rediscovering his form from the Etihad.

With both Sterling and Sane, City had wing options that would strike fear into defenders, especially on the break. With just Sterling, City could alternate between a fast, counter-attacking approach and a more considered, possession-based approach (with Sterling able to inject some much-needed speed at the killer moment).

Last season, as the Blues won the Treble, the attack was undoubtedly slower, favouring a more direct approach to supply Erling Haaland's relentless goal pursuit.

When Jeremy Doku arrives this summer, they will keep that approach while being able to reintroduce the pace that has been absent since Sterling left.

Last season, City had two different approaches in the wide areas, with Jack Grealish able to play cautiously or more aggressively. When the approach was to attack the fullbacks, Phil Foden would go wide right, or maybe Bernardo Silva if there was an overlap option.