Marmoush's breakout performance was only a matter of time, says Guardiola

MANCHESTER, England : Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said newcomer Omar Marmoush's hat-trick on Saturday did not surprise him after the dazzling season the 26-year-old striker had been having in the Bundesliga.

While all the pre-game talk had been about City's Erling Haaland and Newcastle's Alexander Isak, two of the league's most scintillating goalscorers, Marmoush stole the show, bagging the first hat-trick of his career in City's 4-0 Premier League thrashing of the Newcastle United.

"We knew it," Guardiola said of the striker signed last month from Eintracht Frankfurt for 59 million pounds ($74.25 million).

"So in Germany, in Frankfurt, he makes a good number. Against Orient (City's 2-1 FA Cup win last Saturday), had three clear chances, could not score. So we knew sooner or later, the dynamic in the group was good and the performance was good, he could show what he is.

"Hopefully he can handle the compliments."

Even more impressive was the fact that the Egyptian bagged his hat-trick in 13 first-half minutes, making his mark in England after scoring 15 Bundesliga goals already this season, to sit second behind Bayern Munich's Harry Kane in the German scoring chart.

Asked how Marmoush so seamlessly hit the ground running at City, Guardiola said: "Listen, it's simple, the answer. When you play good, everyone adapts quickly.

"When (the team doesn't) play good, you need time. It's a guy who likes to attack space to help to create. But when we play in the way we played today, everyone is better."

Marmoush said his first goal in the 19th minute, a lob over the head of the onrushing Martin Dubravka, was his favourite.

"Looking at the replay (of the first goal), I was celebrating and feeling extremely happy," said Marmoush, who