BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco likes the way Manchester City are caring for Jeremy Doku by keeping him out of every game in a tough season.
Tedesco is likely to show similar consideration to Doc when Belgium face Serbia and Azerbaijan.
Doc signed for Manchester City from Rennes in the off-season. he soon settled in northern England In fierce competition with star-studded teams.
He was included on Friday in Belgium’s 26-man squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Serbia and the European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan four days later. Both games will be played at King Baudoin Stadium.
Asked about Doc’s busy schedule, Tedesco told reporters: “A lot of our players are playing two games a week like they are right now. We take that into consideration.”
Earlier this week, the highly-rated 21-year-old winger played just 13 minutes in the Champions League against Young Boys, but completed the most dribbles in the game, according to Opta statistics.
His six successful dribbles were the most in a Champions League match for a player who entered the field after the 80th minute.
Tedesco said: “Jeremy’s situation is very positive. They (City) also care about him and he won’t play for example 90 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes. It also has the quality to do it. And we’re really grateful that it’s going there.”
Belgium defeated Austria 3-2 in Group F last month to qualify for next year’s European Championship in Germany. Tedesco has made it clear that the game against Azerbaijan is his top priority and says he will experiment against Serbia.
“Of course we’re going to try things, we’re going to test things, but nothing crazy, nothing wild, nothing that we can later say we’ll never need again,” Tedesco said. Told. “But it’s probably something you’ll need in some situations, probably during matches and during the Euros.”
Tedesco selected Anderlecht defender Jan Vertonghen, an experienced defender, and said he was fit to play against Azerbaijan despite suffering a minor ankle injury.
The team will once again be without Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois due to injury.
___
Goalkeepers: Kane Castells (Wolfsburg), Mats Sells (Strasbourg), Arnaud Bodal (Standard Liege), Thomas Kaminski (Luton)
Defenders: Ameen Al Dakhil (Burnley), Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno De Basto (Anderlecht), Wout Faes (Leicester), Arthur Teate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Ginho Van Huysden (Standard Liège), Alexis Saeremakers (AC Milan)
Midfielders: Orel Mangala (Nottingham Forest), Yannick Carrasco (Al Shabab), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Aster Vranks (Wolfsburg), Arthur Vermaelen. (Royal Antwerp)
Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce), Olivier Deman (Werder Bremen), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Romelu Lukaku (AS Roma), Dodi Lukabakio (Sevilla) ), Reus Openda (Leipzig), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer