Young Watford striker Doumbia's development praised by manager Cleverley

Mamadou Doumbia visits Watford training ahead of his transfer last July. Photo Credit: Watford FC/X

England's second tier EFL Championship is a league that will test any player in the world with the high physicality and demanding schedule. After turning heads with four goals in four matches for Mali at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, towering striker Mamadou Doumbia is showing all the signs of a future superstar.

A player who has all the physical attributes to thrive, Doumbia continues to impress Watford manager Tom Cleverley with an attribute that only shows up in training and the day-to-day duties of being a professional: His attitude.

“I always think that a player who has a fantastic attitude can fulfill their potential, and Mamadou has a great attitude,” said Cleverley after surprisingly including Doumbia in his first matchday squad of the 2024-25 season back in August in comments recorded by the Watford Observer.

“When someone comes into the building and asks for two or three English lessons a day so he can fit in, so he can know what I’m saying, so he can learn – that attitude caught my eye straight away...He backs that up with really good technique, pace and power."

Observers of African football saw all the signs of Doumbia's potential during his time with the Mali under-17 national team. Doumbia scored four goals at the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations before leading the West African nation to a third place finish at the U-17 World Cup in Indonesia, scoring in a 3-0 victory over Argentina.

Fast forward to late April. Doumbia has had to deal with some injuries this season but in a team that has had issues in the striking department, the Malian has stepped up in a difficult situation and earned starts in Watford's last five league matches. The results are not going Watford's way but Doumbia has scored his first two goals over the last six matches.

“We have had a problem with scoring goals for a long time now, and it’s a big ask for young Mamadou to lead the line but he has been doing great," said Cleverley. “For a club of our size in his first season in English football, it’s a big ask of him to lead the line."

Watford have lost five of their last six Championship matches but the Hornets are safely nestled in the middle of the table. Valuable experience in the second half of the campaign will serve Doumbia well and represents excellent progress after joining Watford directly from Malian football before the ongoing season.