A fresh start in Belgium
Vincent Kompany, who made 265 appearances the Manchester City, is now the head coach at RSC Anderlecht – his boyhood club. The player-turned-coach told HLN that the City loanee striker has ‘no noticeable weaknesses’ as the youngster continues to impress, and just like the Belgian giant, Lukas Nmecha is now making his name at the Belgium Pro League.
Although sitting in fifth place, and 13 points behind the league leaders, The Royals still have 12 games to turn it around and make a push towards the top of the table.
Nmecha, who is on loan from the Citizens until the end of the season, has made a bright start in Belgium with 10 goals in 18 starts for Anderlecht, with one more coming from the bench.
His penalty just before the hour mark against Genk, along with two goals that sank KV Oostende, highlighted his prowess and importance to Kompany's side, winning an important six points for the team and boost them up the league table.
Not given a chance yet
Before being loaned out to Anderlecht this season, the 22-year-old went out on multiple loans which ultimately ended in failure.
City first loaned him out to Championship side, Preston North End, before spending six months at VfL Wolfsburg and Middlesbrough, respectively.
Nmecha recorded a combined goal tally of four in 58 appearances while away on these three loans, a stat he has more than doubled in his four months in Belgium.
Kompany has unlocked a spark in the young man, showing what the on-loan Citizen can really do.
International career
The now-German international started his international career with England Under 16s and has since risen through the ranks to England Under 21s, scoring his first goal in a qualifier against Macedonia.
However, the highlight so far will have been with the England Under 19s squad in the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with his winning semi-final goal versus the Czech Republic, and his winner in the final to defeat Portugal.
Due to being German-born and having a German mother, Nmecha decided to switch allegiances to Germany and has since made 14 appearances for Germany Under 21s, mustering up a solid eight goals for his country.
Future of the City forwards
Sergio Agüero’s current contract runs out at the end of the season and City fans will be worrying about the club legend being yet to sign an extension.
So, if the striker was to leave at the end of the season, would Gabriel Jesus be a suitable replacement? The Brazilian forward achieved his best season in Manchester in the 2019-20 season with a career-high 14 goals but is yet to hit the ground running this season, with only two goals in nine appearances.
Pep Guardiola has also chosen to play either Raheem Sterling or new signing, Ferran Torres, through the middle on occasions (despite both being wingers).
17-year-old Liam Delap, the son of legend Rory Delap, was also given a call-up to the first team but could not stamp his mark and has only made the one Premier League appearance so far this season.
Instead, should Lukas Nmecha be given a chance at the Manchester giants instead of being continuously loaned out? For Guardiola, it must be the most positive difficult choice he could have, and Nmecha is doing his best to state his case for City’s next big thing.
