Erling Haaland is thriving thanks to what Jeremy Doku is doing for Man City

Jeremy Doku is in electric form for Manchester City and he shone again as the Blues beat Burnley 5-1 at the Etihad,

What a difference a couple of weeks makes for Jeremy Doku. A fortnight ago he had danced a merry dance around Kazakhstan but was still struggling to find the consistency in the Premier League to show why Belgian observers were so thrilled by his potential.

Doku admitted during the September international break that he hadn’t hit the standards he wanted this season, but things have clicked in spectacular fashion since. In the space of 14 days, he has become undroppable for club as well as country.

He was named man of the match inside the Etihad against Burnley after another star turn, although he might have faced more competition for that award had it been announced after Erling Haaland’s late double.

That took Haaland to eight goals in six Premier League games this season and the Norwegian has been brilliant, but his cause is being helped by the return to form of City’s other attackers.

Last season, it felt like teams could focus their efforts on the striker because he wasn’t getting enough support. Now, Doku and Phil Foden require just as much attention.

Burnley regularly doubled up on Doku, which inevitably took a defender away from another area of the pitch. City were able to exploit that because Doku made the right decisions after attracting men to him.

In recent weeks, the 23-year-old has picked up a new nickname among City fans. Balon D'oku is a sign of the heights these fans believe the Belgian can reach if he finds more consistency in his game.

That has looked more forthcoming and he is in the best form of his City career, beginning to pose a regular threat to defences for the first time since his £55million move from Rennes.

He admitted during the September international break that he hadn't started the season well, but he has been electric since then. There were two assists against Manchester United, a superb goal against Napoli, a performance of relentless running against Arsenal and now another two assists against Burnley.

Doku could easily have found the back of the net in this game as well. His three shots were all on target, but he also created three big chances for teammates. Nobody completed more than his seven dribbles and, crucially, nobody won more than his 10 duels.

That isn't a stat where you would expect Doku to excel, but the fact that he is now winning personal battles is a sign of his growing confidence in his own abilities.

He left Kyle Walker's head in a spin on the 35-year-old's return to the Etihad. Up against Doku, Walker experienced what so many right-backs are experiencing now, which is an afternoon that leaves them not knowing where to turn.

Doku has always had the ability to leave defenders with twisted blood, but it often didn't matter. He couldn't marry that dribbling ability with an end product.

If he can combine the two, then there is a winger capable of becoming world-class. He looks irrepressible at the moment and is now a nightmare for defenders, because you can no longer find comfort in the idea of him beating you, but then falling to find the right ball or finish.

Instead, that end product is picking out players like Haaland and Foden, who, as a result, have more room to thrive. It is proving to be a perfect combination.