Raheem Sterling is 'incredibly important' to Man City - but will forward commit his future?

Pep Guardiola says Raheem Sterling is «an incredibly important player» to Manchester City — as he continues a dramatic turnaround in fortunes having been hinting at an Etihad exit just four months ago.

The 27-year-old scored a hat-trick as City beat Norwich 4-0 at Carrow Road on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to 12 points.

«For his confidence it will be massive,» said City boss Guardiola. «The first goal is brilliant — when Raheem executes without thinking, he is excellent.

»I am so happy for him because strikers need to score for confidence for the next games. He had a fantastic game, especially after the goal he was confident and more aggressive, direct and scored a fantastic goal.

«He has been an incredibly important player in all these seasons, with all the goals and assists, and when he has confidence he's a really, really important player.»

So will Sterling, who was frustrated by a lack of playing time earlier in the campaign, now sign a new contract?

England international Sterling's current deal expires in 2023 and the forward said in October he had dreamed «from a young age» of playing abroad.

Sterling had only scored once by that point in the season, making just two starts, and expressed his concern that he was not playing regularly enough.

But since City began their 15-game unbeaten run in November he has been a regular starter and scored nine times in the league, and 11 goals in all competitions.

Against Norwich, a superb right-footed curling effort, close-range header and tap-in from a saved penalty made Sterling the third City player to score a perfect hat-trick in the Premier League, after Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero, who did it twice.

«You're not going to score everything that goes