When I look at Raheem Sterling, the amount of tap-ins he scored, just because he was in that position, thats something I really look up to How Jeremy Doku has been inspired by the former England man

Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterJeremy Dokus attacking credentials are up there with the best of the planets young players.Since breaking into the Anderlecht side as a 16-year-old, the Belgians career has been on an upward trajectory, as he closes in on his half-century of caps for Belgium following his �55million move to Manchester City in 2023.At his best, Doku is able to combine blistering pace with fearless dribbling and the ability to create chances out of nothing. But he still sees room for improvement.Doku on trying to emulate Raheem SterlingSince arriving at the Etihad three seasons ago, the 24-year-old has supplied a steady flow of assists (34 in all competitions), but feels that there is significant room for improvement in front of goal.While a late flurry of goals, including his FA Cup semi-final winner and brace at Everton took his tally up to eight strikes this season to match the career-best he set 12 months ago, Doku has his sights set higher. You may like When he was my coach, he reminded me a lot of Pep Guardiola. Im not surprised hes been so successful at Bayern Munich Jeremy Doku opens up on working with Vincent Kompany I spoke with Pep Guardiola, and obviously you dont need a lot of convincing to go to Manchester City. He showed his interest in me, which made me comfortable signing Jeremy Doku on how his Etihad move came about I dont remember Pep Guardiola telling me before a game, Jeremy, when you have the ball, do this and do that. He has given me a lot of freedom Jeremy Doku on the advice his former Manchester City boss handed him In particular, he namechecks two players he wants to emulate, starting with Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who he was recently asked about.I was asked if I think Im able to reach that level, and Id be crazy if I said no, Doku explains to FourFourTwo. I know my qualities and where I want to go, and if Im in more positions to score goals, I can be up there. My goals are always ones I create for myself difficult goals, dribbling, and then shooting.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.If you have five, six or seven tap-ins a season, that already changes a lot. Ill always have the difficult goals, so its just adding the easy ones its very important to start being in the positions to score those.The second player Doku flags is his Manchester City predecessor Raheem Sterling, who he sees as a prime example of a player whose goal haul increased significantly after he made a habit of arriving at the back post to add those all-important tap-ins.Did Pep Guardiola ever talk to him about it? Hed tell me sometimes to be in that position, but it wasnt like he was saying, Jeremy, Im not happy, I need more, Doku stresses. Its not as if I can be invisible for the whole game, its what I contribute besides goals Im involved, creating danger, giving key passes for goals.When I look at Raheem though, the amount of tap-ins that he scored, the easy goals, just because he was in that position, thats something I really look up to.It might seem easy, but the most difficult thing is to get into that position. Maybe five times before that, he did it and didnt receive the ball.It demands consistency, to not give up, to keep on finding those positions.TOPICSBelgiumWorld CupJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromChris FlanaganSenior Staff Writer