Million Manhoef scored four times in Stoke’s last three home matches of last season and is desperate to play a big part this time around
Million Manhoef is being told he doesn’t have to just score ‘worldies’ as he is tasked with helping to transform Stoke City’s attack in his first full season in England.
Manhoef, aged 22, got better as the season went on after moving to Stoke from Vitesse Arnhem at the end of the winter transfer window, scoring four times from the right wing in the last three home matches of the campaign.
He will be one of the first names on the teamsheet this time around and Steven Schumacher knows the importance of getting him on scoring regularly. Stoke only scored 49 times in total last season – the sixth lowest record in the division – and that has to dramatically improve.
Schumacher, having watched Manhoef scored in a 1-0 friendly win at Bolton on Tuesday night, said: “He’s going to have to (score regularly). It’s important that wide players score goals. We’ve spoken to him a lot about getting into areas closer to the goal when the ball is on the opposite side. He doesn’t have to score worldies all the time, we’re working on him positionally do to that and tactically.
“At Bolton his finish is just ability. He’s in a good position first and foremost on the regain and then shows composure to dink it over the goalie. A couple of times before he scored he had opportunities to get a shot away and we’ll be encouraging that. He’s got to always try to finish with an end product because that’s what wide men have got to do.”.
Leave a Reply