The France Under-21 international, a summer signing from Guingamp, was outstanding on his first start for City, thrilling supporters and tormenting defenders both out wide and in central areas.
And having played a pivotal role in City’s comeback against the Clarets, Shakespeare says Knockaert, 20, will have a few more tricks up his sleeve to keep the Blue Army on the edge of their seats.
“When you think of a boy of that age coming across to this country and having to settle into the demands of Championship football – I think we’ve got a real talent there, a real find for this Football Club and an asset for the future,” Shakey said.
“He’s got strength of character and he’s very bubbly in the dressing room. It’s a good signing for us and the boy can play, there’s no doubt about that.”
A conjuring, imaginative player with the ball at his feet that loves to run at defenders, Knockaert also showed versatility on Wednesday night, having operated both out wide a 4-4-2 formation and more centrally in a 4-3-3.
And Shakey says he can see a role for the young Frenchman in several areas of the pitch.
“We scouted and recruited him having seen him play in various positions,” Shakey said.
“I think he can have an influence wherever he plays, but coming into those central areas and making things tick made him the catalyst for our second-half performance on Wednesday.”