Omar Marmoush snub for Erling Haaland gives Man City exactly what they need

It has been a difficult start to life at Manchester City for Omar Marmoush.

When he was scoring goals for fun in the Bundesliga in January, he could never have imagined that a few weeks later Pep Guardiola would be praising his movement against Leyton Orient. Further appearances against Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid had made a baptism of fire.

Given his third Premier League start for the home game against Newcastle, Marmoush was given an easy introduction. With Ederson's kick having evaded every opposition player and landed at the Egyptian's feet, all he needed to do was roll it into the feet of the onrushing Erling Haaland and City would be on their way in this top-four clash.

Except he didn't take the easy option and, unlike most times the team have gone down that route this season, it paid off. An exquisite lob went over Martin Dubravka and into the goal to put City on their way to victory and give Marmoush's new life lift-off. After taking 280 minutes to score his first goal for the Blues, by minute 293 he had his first hat-trick.

Having opened up at just how unprecedentedly bad things are for City in his press conference before the game, this time Guardiola's frustration on the touchline was for brilliant moves that didn't quite pay off rather than mistakes that cost them more goals or points. There was still nervous moments but even they were turned into positives, such as when Abdukodir Khusanov lunged past Anthony Gordon but then sprinted back to dispossess the England international after John Stones had kept him at bay.

Stones was a rock at the back, guiding Khusanov though on his second start and mopping up ever bit of danger. Equally impressive, on home debut, was Nico Gonzalez sitting in front of the