'World class' Aguero scores five in one game

The 27-year-old cancelled out Aleksandar Mitrovic's opener in the 42nd minute at the Etihad Stadium and netted again in the 49th, 50th, 60th and 62nd minutes, with Kevin De Bruyne also finding the target.

He became the fifth player to score five goals in an English top-flight game since the launch of the Premier League in 1992, after Andrew Cole, Alan Shearer, Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov.

Aguero's 20-minute goal spree also recalled the recent exploits of Robert Lewandowski, who scored five goals in nine minutes in Bayern Munich's 5-1 defeat of Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

His exploits drew praise from across the football world, but Aguero was just happy to help City back to the top of the Premier League and end his own barren run in top-flight matches.

"I think it was four games without scoring any goals in the Premier League so I am really pleased about my performance today," he said.

"I've just realised here in the dressing room that I equalled this record but the most important thing is that we won this game and got the three points.

"Five goals is good and I am happy. I hope to continue in the same way. I am happy to score all these goals because it was useful to win."

Aguero, who was taken off after 66 minutes, also revealed he had demolished Newcastle despite being less than fully fit.

"I had a problem with my hamstring in the last game in the Champions League against Borussia (Monchengladbach) but now I am feeling good," he said.

"It was a good decision from the manager to change me because it means no risk."

City captain Vincent Kompany, who missed the game through injury, wrote on Twitter that Aguero's display had been "world class".

De Bruyne, who also set up two of Aguero's goals, said: "Sergio Aguero can score goals out of nothing. It is great to have him in the team, obviously."

Aguero, who famously netted the 94th-minute goal against Queens Park Rangers in 2012 that earned City the title, has now scored seven goals in four games, but he had not netted in the league since August.

"I'm happy for Kun, he deserves it," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, using Aguero's nickname. "He makes the difference. In the last game he missed chances, but he was calm and that was key.

"To see him play at the level he played at today... not only he must be happy, but all the fans."

Explaining his decision to withdraw Aguero, Pellegrini added: "He was not upset about going off. He was having treatment at half-time and it was a risk for him to finish the whole game."

Aguero joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2011 for a reported fee of £35 million ($53.1 million, 47.4 million euros).

He has won two league titles and the League Cup during his time at the club, making 175 appearances and scoring 115 goals.