Doku Back in the Fold After Calf Setback
Jeremy Doku's return to fitness has come at the right moment for Manchester City. The 24-year-old winger, who joined from Rennes in August 2023 on a five-year contract for a reported £55.5 million, is back in action after a calf injury that kept him out of six club games, including the first four Premier League matches.
Doku's setback, his third since December 2025, occurred in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on August 16, when he came off at the start of the second half. He made his comeback as a 75th-minute substitute for Iliman Ndiaye in City's 5-3 win over Sunderland on September 19.
Since the international break, Doku has contributed two goal contributions. He scored in the 68th minute of City's 3-0 win over Liverpool on October 11 and provided an assist in the 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town the following week. He also played the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
Doku's time at City has coincided with a period of transition. He arrived during Pep Guardiola's seventh year in charge and played three seasons under the Catalan, registering 22 goals and 34 assists in 131 appearances. With Enzo Maresca taking over this summer, Doku, now wearing the number 11 shirt, will be looking to build on last season's eight goals and 14 assists in 47 matches.
City face Brighton and Hove Albion twice in a week, starting with the Carabao Cup fourth round tie on Wednesday night before the league clash on Saturday. Doku's availability gives Maresca another option as he navigates a busy schedule.
Meanwhile, Doku's former Anderlecht head coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck, now a pundit for Play Sports, recently visited him in Manchester. Vanhaezebrouck handed Doku his senior debut in November 2018 before parting ways with the Belgian club the following month.