Haaland is a better version of me!

Former Tottenham and England striker Gary Lineker has informed William Hill that Erling Haaland is a “greater, faster and stronger model” of himself, whereas Alan Shearer expects the Manchester Metropolis striker to enhance once more subsequent season.

Talking solely to William Hill on the Soccer Writers’ Affiliation awards, Lineker mentioned: “I feel all of us thought he [Erling Haaland] would rating objectives. I watched him rather a lot at Borussia Dortmund over time and knew what a expertise he was, however to do what he’s executed in his first season, having needed to adapt to totally different gamers and a unique fashion of taking part in, it’s been fairly outstanding. The worrying factor for all different groups is he’s most likely solely going to get higher when he settles in!

“He’s a much bigger, faster and stronger model of me. He’s a field participant and I used to be a field participant. I watch what strikers do and every time I watch him and I feel ‘go there’, and he does.

“His motion is fantastic. He understands easy methods to rating objectives as a result of it’s a science; when you make sufficient runs into house ultimately the ball will go there. He will get that so nicely and he simply is aware of the place the ball will go and that’s why he scores so many objectives.

“Return a few years and there was a lot of chat round false nines and whether or not the centre ahead would even exist anymore, however he’s modified that.

“I’m not evaluating them, however he’s already matching the [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi-number of objectives. You’ll be able to see the drive he has and he’s solely going to get higher.”

Shearer: Haaland will solely enhance and get higher; he’s the best centre ahead

Alan Shearer was one other visitor on the FWA awards, and like Lineker, the Premier League’s main goalscorer was filled with reward for Haaland.

“He’s been phenomenal,” Shearer mentioned. “I don’t suppose many individuals have been asking whether or not he might do within the Premier League what he did in Germany, however he’s emphatically answered the query of those who have been.

“I feel he’s the best centre ahead. In case you are constructing the best centre ahead from scratch, you need somebody who’s fast, robust, good within the air and might put the ball behind the web – Haaland has all of these. I don’t actually see any weaknesses in his sport, to be sincere.”

Haaland, voted the FWA Footballer of the 12 months, has scored a outstanding 52 objectives in all competitions this season, and worryingly for defences throughout Europe, Shearer expects the Norwegian to maintain on bettering.

He mentioned: “When you will have set the usual that he has this season, everybody goes to be him to do it once more subsequent season. I feel he’ll be capable of try this.

“After all, it helps when you will have nice gamers round you. Enjoying with [Kevin] De Bruyne is a centre ahead’s dream; you realize that 9 instances out of 10, wherever you’re he’s going to search out you, in order that clearly helps an enormous quantity.

“He’s nonetheless very younger, and the scary thought for defenders and different groups is that he’s going to enhance and get higher.”