Petrescu lauds Dynamo forward Kokorin

Moscow – Dynamo Moscow coach Dan Petrescu has hailed young striker Alexander Kokorin as one of the country’s fastest?progressing players, but insists the Russia international still has a lot to do to fulfil his potential.

This season has been the 21?year?old’s breakthrough year, hitting nine goals in 17 appearances for Dynamo and establishing himself as a regular in Fabio Capello’s Russia squad.

“I think that now he managed to break through and there is still plenty space for further progress,” ex?Chelsea defender Petrescu said.

“Everything depends on him.”

The Romanian coach said Kokorin should work even harder to gain a foothold in the footballing elite, and presented Zenit St. Petersburg marksman Alexander Kerzhakov as the ideal role model.

“Kerzhakov is ahead of Kokorin according to all the figures and stats. In order to reach Kerzhakov, Sasha should score goals both for the club and for the national team. He will have to work a lot.”

Kokorin hit his first for the national team in a 4?0 thrashing of Israel in a World Cup qualifier in September.