Former Leeds United striker sets this challenge for Man City star Erling Haaland

Former Leeds United striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink described Manchester City star Erling Haaland as ‘a proper striker’ after Sunday’s thrilling draw at Newcastle United.

The former Borussia Dortmund frontman has made a major impact since joining City during the summer and he was in fine form on Tyneside as his side battled from two goals down to earn a point at St James Park.

Pep Guardiola’s men were a goal down at half-time as goals from Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson helped the hosts recover from Ilkay Gundogan’s early goal.

Things went from bad to worse for City after half-time as former academy star Kieran Trippier extended the Magpies lead with a stunning free-kick.

The two-goal advantage was halved on the hour-mark as Haaland came to the fore with his first goal of the game and he played a key role in Bernardo Silva’s equaliser just four minutes later.

Speaking after the game as part of Sky Sports punditry team, former Dutch international Hasselbaink enthused over Haaland’s goal and revealed why he believes he is destined for the top.

He said: “You can say everything you want about Man City, they stay calm, and Haaland moves to the first cross, then he moves again, he gets himself a little yard.

“If you watch him when De Bruyne gets the ball, he gets in front of the player, he’s looking for the space, he gets that yard.

“Then it’s bang, goal!.

“That is a proper striker, you don’t need to take an extra touch, he only needs that extra yard and he scores.”

Hasselbaink assessed Haaland’s overall performance against the Magpies and believes there are still areas in which he can improve if ‘he wants to become the best player ever’.

“He is still growing, he is still improving.  He has got everything, he’s quick, he gets chances and he will score goals.

“He’s a goal-getter and he lives for his goals, that what he does.  It’s like the ball is a magnet to his feet in the box.

“If he wants to become the best player ever, he has to be able to handle the pressure Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe are getting.

“So that shouldn’t be a problem.  Every game they are going to look at what he does, and today, at moments he want brilliant, at other moments, he needs to grow and get back at holding the ball up and going for headers.

“But he is only still young.”