July 4 (Reuters) - Belgium winger Jeremy ⁠Doku deserves more support at the World Cup if he ⁠is going to prove decisive for his country, teammate Dodi Lukebakio ‌said on Saturday.

Doku had been touted as a potential talisman for Belgium before the tournament but has been largely ineffective despite their progress to the last 16, where they ​will meet co-hosts the United States in Seattle ⁠on Monday.

The 24-year-old Doku was ⁠taken off in the last game against Senegal, along with Kevin De Bruyne, ⁠when ‌the side were 2-0 down to Senegal and the change helped spark an improbable comeback with Belgium triumphing 3-2 in the ⁠last minute of extra time.

"Jeremy is like a brother ​to me. It's ‌understandable that things have been difficult for him so far," Lukebakio ⁠told a press ​conference at the training base.

"He became a father, and he was also very ill. I know how ambitious he is and how hard he works.

"Jeremy is ⁠a very good player. I think he ​deserves more support from everyone because when he's fit and playing well, you all know how much damage he can do to the opposition."

Doku missed Belgium's ⁠second group game against Iran when he flew to London for the birth of his first child but did startthe other three games at the tournament.

Lukebakio delivered a convincing performance when Belgium last met the U.S. in ​a friendly in Atlanta in March, scoring the ⁠last two goals in a 5-2 triumph.

"But they're a completely different team now," ​the winger said. "At a World Cup, everything ‌is different, and this time they'll certainly ​have all of their fans behind them. It'll be a 50-50 contest."

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Atlanta; Editing by Christian Radnedge)