What Jeremy Doku did in 40 minutes for Man City vs RB Leipzig might make him undroppable

Doku's impact

Within seconds of Jeremy Doku's arrival on the pitch, Manchester City were back in the contest against RB Leipzig. For once, it had little to do with the Belgian, with Phil Foden teeing up Erling Haaland.

That goal injected some life into what had, until then, been a shambolic performance. Immediately City started looking for Doku. He glided past Amadou Haidara immediately, then tried to duck inside the makeshift right-back a minute later. Next, it was another burst down the outside before winning a corner with a low ball into the box. In three minutes the £55million winger had offered more of an attacking threat than Jack Grealish had in 54 minutes before him.

Just after the hour mark Doku skinned Haidara again, leaving him flailing tight to the touchline as the blur of man and ball darted past him. Mohamed Sinkaman was increasingly being dragged across to help out.

City player ratings vs RB Leipzig

City vs RB Leipzig as it happened

Doku was involved in the third goal, finding Foden before he got the ball across for Julian Alvarez to complete the comeback. Every time City shifted the ball to the left, the noise level increased a little inside the Etihad. He has become a cult figure already for City fans.

In his time on the pitch, Grealish completed one of his two attempted take-ons and had 34 touches, with just one in the penalty area. In around 40 minutes of action, Doku managed four of seven take-ons, 40 touches and four in the penalty area. He is more threatening as a left-winger at the moment and it's getting harder and harder to leave him out.

Defensive disasters

There were plenty of things that came together for City last season, as is always going to be the case for a side that wins the