Defenders beware! Erling Haaland does extra work on his “weaker” right foot

It feels like a golden boot procession for Erling Haaland at the moment – but the Manchester City striker insists there is still significant room for improvement, especially with his right foot.

Only Bournemouth have so far prevented him from scoring in the Premier League. Manchester United are next to be tasked with drawing up plans to halt their progress during Sunday’s derby.

Haaland made it clear at his July revelation that he needed to make adjustments in his game, which was quite a statement from someone who arrived after scoring the small matter of 86 goals in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund.

Erling Haaland works particularly hard in training to improve the finish with his “weaker” right foot

He improved this part of his game alongside coach Alexander Zickler at Borussia Dortmund

But what he meant was his weaker foot. Only 15 of his 133 professional goals came from this side, Haaland preferred to sit on the left crack bench instead.

The 22-year-old pays special attention to this and perfects ways of using it even better in order to become even more complete. Not a message that many of his markers will be happy to hear.

Last year at Dortmund, Haaland spent a lot of time with coach and former Bayern Munich striker Alexander Zickler to try to rely on his weaker side.

The Manchester City star has already scored 11 Premier League goals since joining the club

He told People Zickler was the perfect mentor as the former Germany international had won a Champions League during his career – something he has yet to achieve.

During training, Zickler slowly developed the Norwegian’s right stake. Zickler arrived when Marco Rose took the job, looking at Haaland’s three right-footed goals last season and identifying that as an area to work on.

Haaland knows his body and is not a player who demands extra sessions, but the pair have been doing exercises to gain extra balance and confidence in the other leg.

The Norwegian hitman joined the Etihad from Borussia Dortmund for £51million this summer

The results are likely just beginning to emerge – and benefit City significantly. Haaland scored four with his right foot last year after buying into Zickler’s methods and already has two since the blockbuster move to the Etihad Stadium – including from outside the area at Wolves before the international break.

Haaland capitalizes on Zickler’s approach alone in City, making sure he doesn’t take the easy option by plundering with his left flank during final practice sessions just for confidence reasons. He trains his brain to instinctively think like a two-footed striker.

Hours remain and it was conspicuous during the Community Shield loss to Liverpool that he launched a left leg on an inviting cross rather than his right foot to either walk or tap, but Haaland spends time making sure that these failures become anomalies. It’s the kind of personal development that will strike terror into the rest of Europe.

Pep Guardiola’s side have started well in their title defense and are second in the Premier League