Aguero can still top charts

MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini is backing Sergio Aguero to finish as the Barclays Premier League’s top scorer for a second successive season.

The prolific City striker roared back to goalscoring form with a superb hat–trick in the comfortable 3–0 victory at Chelsea.

The treble took his Premier League tally since joining the club in 2011 to 99 in 146 appearances and his total in the competition this season to 21.

IMPORTANT

With leading scorer Harry Kane three ahead of him on 24, Aguero again has the Golden Boot – which he won last year with 26 goals – in his sights.

Pellegrini said: “He has scored an important amount of goals so he is fighting to be the top scorer in this year as well.

“The way that he is playing, especially the last game, I am sure that it will be difficult for the other strikers to keep up with his performances.”

Aguero will hope to reach his Premier League century against one of his favourite opponents, Newcastle, at St James’ Park tonight.

The Argentinian has scored 10 times against the Magpies in league competition, including five in one game when the sides met at the Etihad Stadium last October.

Pellegrini has stated in the past that he believes Aguero belongs in the same bracket of players as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and only injuries have prevented him attaining that status.

He said: “If he continues scoring three goals every game, he’d be very near them. The most important thing for him is to keep in the same way he’s been doing this season and not to have injuries for a long time.

“If he plays around 29-30 games this season, with just one injury which was with the national squad, I think that’s important if he’s going to be (rated with) the top players.”