Jeremy Doku singled out as Man City signs become difficult to ignore at Ipswich

Pep Guardiola has been pretty animated at times watching Jeremy Doku this season.

That's not to single the Belgian out, but as one of the few players tasked with using the creative freedom he is given to make the decisions that produce goals, he has been more under the microscope than most as City's goals have dried up. As half-time approached at Ipswich, all it needed was an outreached hand from the manager for Doku to slap in satisfaction for the knowledge that he had done his job.

City were 3-0 up, on their way to a fourth win in five games and with a lead so healthy that they moved into the top four on goal difference, and Doku had picked up exactly where he had left off at Salford in the FA Cup. He hadn't yet been directly involved in a goal (that wouldn't last long) but the Belgian's play with Josko Gvardiol, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden had given City a lead they couldn't, for a change, throw away.

The first came after an opening minutes that had seen chances for both sides, the visitors producing opportunities but slightly unnerved by former Blue Liam Delap rampaging at the other end. A quality move involving Doku saw De Bruyne slip the ball across to Foden and the Stockport forward coolly control and finish on the half volley.

Soon after, it was two with Foden nudging the ball sideways on the edge of the box for Mateo Kovacic to arrow into the corner of the net. With half-time approaching, Foden turned in another De Bruyne ball and Doku had his recognition - less dramatic than what has come before it this season but far more welcomed.

Doku would get more limelight early in the second half when his shot was deflected in for his sixth goal of he season and he then set up Erling Haaland - his first ever