Every newly appointed head coach in world football would love to walk in on their first day and see Erling Haaland awaiting instructions. The Norwegian international has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and broken record after record in the process.
Haaland scored 38 across all competitions last season and won the Premier League's Golden Boot in the process. But the 25-year-old played in all but three Premier League games while he also featured in every Champions League match and only missed five domestic cup games as City won both the FA and Carabao Cup.
"Hopefully Omar [Marmoush] comes back soon to give rest to Erling because Erling is exhausted," Pep Guardiola admitted while the Egyptian international was away at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) over Christmas and New Year.
However, that longing for Marmoush did not result in many opportunities for the 27-year-old when he eventually returned to Manchester. While he had a good run of minutes initially, one goal in six Premier League games left him as a back-up come the business end of the season.
Marmoush would play just five of City's final 10 Premier League matches, including brief cameos against Everton and AFC Bournemouth. Unfortunately for the forward, Guardiola needed his best out on the pitch to keep the title race alive and Marmoush was not trusted to start.
The former Eintracht Frankfurt man is not the only striker who has found it difficult to burst out of Haaland's spotlight. The Norwegian is a hard act to follow.
Realistically though, City do not want to push Haaland too much. He will want to play every game, but especially after a World Cup summer, City need to find an alternative to the talisman that allows him a chance to rest and recuperate.
Ironically, against Marmoush's Egypt on Monday night, City were given a glimpse of a wildcard alternative to Haaland next season in the form of Jeremy Doku. This season was one of huge progress for the Belgium international.
He recorded his best goalscoring return (eight) since arriving at City. His electric pace and now trademark cut inside from the left onto his right foot, caused multiple problems for opponents.
Doku is now a key player for Belgium at the World Cup and started the 1-1 draw with Egypt on Monday night. Despite beginning the game in his traditional left wing role, Doku spent a period of the match in the centre-forward position as Rudi Garcia looked to break down Egypt. His blistering runs into the channels caused a headache and while he did not score, Doku will have been pleased with his work in the scorching Seattle sun.
He has only briefly played as a centre-forward for City in cup competitions but Enzo Maresca could see an opportunity to try something different next season. Since Haaland arrived in Manchester, the lingering problem has been how City play without him.
Nobody playing second fiddle to Haaland is going to be as good as the Norwegian but the Blues need someone who can offer them a strong option when required. And Doku could be a solution.
