Jack Grealish shares on-pitch running joke he has with Man City teammate Erling Haaland

Jack Grealish has waxed lyrical about his Manchester City colleague Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian was seen as a stellar signing in the summer when the club announced they had struck an agreement to purchase him from Borussia Dortmund.

And he has more than lived up to the hype with a sensational return of 17 goals in just 11 games for City.

He has scored hat-tricks in his last three Premier League games at the Etihad and on Wednesday hopes to extend his scoring run in the Champions League at home to Copenhagen. Now, Grealish has delivered an insight into Haaland's character and personality – and shared the running joke he has with his teammate on the playing field.

Read more : Guardiola explains why Mahrez isn't currently in City team

Appearing on BT Sport'sAround the Block series, Grealish said: "When he's in the box and stuff I always banter him and say 'mate, come on, liven up' and when he first come, I remember it was a training session in America, we were doing shooting and stuff for strikers, he scored nice goals and stuff, he didn't score loads.

"I thought he was going to score with every shot then - as soon as he got into these games - obviously he didn't score against Liverpool in the Community Shield - but he has this mentality where I don't think he cares what anybody says about him or anything, it's just so focused.

"All he wants to do is score goals, if you put that ball in the box, he's there - he's ridiculous. On top of it all, he's such a lovely guy, great to have around in the training ground, all the staff love him.

"I can't speak higher of him, he's one of the best finishers in world football - if not the best. I think his numbers so far speak for themselves."

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