Pep Guardiola pinpoints 'next step' for Man City star who shone in Newcastle FA Cup win

Pep Guardiola has outlined the next step in Jeremy Doku’s development as he comes towards the end of an impressive first campaign with Manchester City. 

The flying Belgian starred again as City reached a sixth straight FA Cup semi-final with a 2-0 victory against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Just 21, Doku terrorised the Magpies backline with his performance just lacking a goal. It was the latest in a string of fine displays since his £55million move from Rennes last August. Guardiola explained the decision to use the wide man in more central positions in the quarter-final tie, and pinpointed what is next the former Anderlecht man’s development. 

“We won the treble with players in the pocket like Phil (Foden), dribbling at the opponent and Erling (Haaland) can run,” said Guardiola. “He was brilliant. He’s a player who can play wider but in a central position he has the ability to dribble and run. 

“Of course he has to have the quality to see the last pass like Kevin (de Bruyne) does or (İlkay) Gündoğan had or Riyad (Mahrez) and other players like Phil. That’s his next step but he’s so young. 

“There were moments where he could make the last pass to Erling but he played really well. He helped us keep the ball, made his dribbles, it was really, really good.”

Doku now heads on international duty with Belgium for their friendlies against the Republic of Ireland, March 23, and England, March 26. Kevin de Bruyne is not in the squad but Guardiola said after the Newcastle win he expected one of his star men “back soon”.