In his large selection of 29 players for the Nations League matches against Denmark (05/09) and Iceland (08/09), national coach Roberto Martinez has left room for a few surprises.
In addition to Landry Dimata, the first cap of his young teammate, Jérémy Doku, attracted particular attention.
The 18-year-old winger seems to have the weapons to become the ideal replacement for Eden Hazard.
25 August 2020. A little less than ten months after the last game against Cyprus, national coach Roberto Martinez announces his selection for the first two matches of the Nations League.
To everyone's amazement, we find the names of Landry Dimata and Jérémy Doku.
While the summons letter for the 18-year-old dribbler came as no surprise in itself, it was only the timing that made some frowns.
Doku managed to do well last year with an Anderlecht team undergoing reconstruction. Despite disappointing results, spectators were able to appreciate the hatching of young nuggets like the twirling flanker.
The speed devil still lacks precision
Both in the shortened 2019-2020 season and at the start of this exercise, the 18-year-old winger, who can play both right and left, impressed with his acceleration incessant.
Despite barely 24 appearances last season, he has 55 successful dribbles, securing a spot among the top 5 dribblers in the Jupiler Pro League and even claiming the title of the most successful teenager in dribbling in Europe.
However, these same statistics also show its biggest point of work: efficiency. Too often still, "Jerre" fails to reach a teammate in front of goal after a breathtaking sprint. Sometimes we even have the impression that he is centred with his eyes closed.
His strikes also lack precision or strength. Last year Doku scored 4 goals and provided 3 assists.
Too meagre statistics for an attacking player, but the youngster realizes it too.
"I understood that professional football is not a show where you have to show your dribbling numbers and your turns. A striker who does not score or give an assist will always be targeted. You will be judged on your statistics," Doku said in his very first big interview with Sport / Foot Magazine a few weeks ago.
The future dynamite of the national team?
Doku, sometimes compared to Raheem Sterling or Douglas Costa, could well become the natural successor of 'Eden Hazard in the Red Devils. At 29, Eden will be able to hold out for a few more years at the top level, but with Doku, we may have already found a contender for the throne. According to the former Anderlecht coach, Hein Vanhaezebrouck, the young man could have a more important career than that of the Belgian legend.
During his first season at Real Madrid, the oldest of the Hazard brothers has certainly won a title, but he did not have a big role to play.
Of ankle problems and other persistent pain were the captain of the national team barely made 22 appearances for Real and has never really been able to shine.
It remains to be seen whether national coach Roberto Martinez will give his gem some extra rest against Denmark and Iceland in preparation for the next season which begins on September 20 for the Madrileños.
This will perhaps be the occasion for Jérémy Doku to obtain his first minutes of play and to show why some consider him as Hazard's successor? According to Martinez, his future”
Source: Proximus.be