Pep Guardiola says Raheem Sterling contract issue is 'important' to Man City

Pep Guardiola says he is in the dark over whether Raheem Sterling will sign another Manchester City contract.

The England star bagged his first hat-trick for nearly two years as the Blues won 4-0 at Norwich to keep up their relentless pace at the top of the Premier League.

But Sterling will enter the final year of his current deal this summer, and with no indication of another deal being in the offing, his future remains uncertain.

Sterling said last season, when he was edged out of the team by Phil Foden, that he would have to consider a move if he was not playing regularly - and the signing of Jack Grealish added fresh competition on his favoured left-hand side.

Since then, Sterling has undergone a resurgence in form, scoring 11 in his last 15 appearances to become only the second City player, with Riyad Mahrez, to reach double figures this season, with 12 in total.

He has also been a key attacking weapon, providing penetration in tight games, as he did against Brentford last week, when a turn of pace earned a penalty to break the deadlock.

His future remains in the balance, but Guardiola says that while he has input, any decision is out of his hands.

“Nobody doubts how important it is,” said Guardiola. “He has shown it. What I want is for tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, he and all the players play well.

“If we count the amount of games he has played since we are together, it's a lot. He was a key player.

“In the future I don't know what's going to happen, because the club decides. The club all the time. When they extend the player contracts, I give my opinion but the club takes the decisions all the time.”

Sterling appears happier now he is playing together, but with talk of big changes at City this summer,