I saw Pep Guardiola's mood change as Man City players give him something he hasn't had all season

Who needs Erling Haaland?

In the week Manchester City secured a record-shattering ten year contract for their star striker, they scored four goals with their number nine barely having a touch at Ipswich.

And ahead of a week where City are set to spend £63m on another prolific attacker, three players sent a message to the club that they will not give up their places easily.

Haaland sent a message of his own. He will always score goals so the only surprise at Ipswich was that it took four before he got among the fun. Phil Foden backed up his brace at Brentford with a double in front of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand in a brutal first half, with Jeremy Doku on target after the break and Mateo Kovacic thumping in the game-killing second goal.

The stats speak for themselves as City slowly climb out of their wretched run, and all of a sudden they are six unbeaten. They are still not 'back' and Pep Guardiola won't thank you for suggesting as much - but they are slowly putting the pieces back together in attack.

It was a slight surprise to see Doku in for Savinho, who has played well recently and used as a benchmark by the manager for Jack Grealish to improve. Doku responded with two goals and two assists in the FA Cup but was back on the bench at Brentford.

He showed his continued improvement at Ipswich with a goal and assist in the second half - but his first 45 minutes were arguably more impressive to Guardiola. He was the player who kept the tempo, waited for the run from De Bruyne, and assisted the assister for all three first half goals.

It was the role Grealish made his own in the treble season, sending another warning to the number ten of what he must do to play more. Doku essentially created five goals at Portman Road -