Ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has labelled Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush a “special talent” following his hat-trick against Newcastle at the weekend.

The Premier League champions spent a sizeable sum to bring the Egyptian to the Etihad last month and, after taking a few games to get going, Wenger said the 26-year-old has now shown what he is capable of:

“What I liked is Marmoush; he’s mobile and he looks powerful as well, in his run. And he looks as well that, in his mind, he’s not scared of anybody.”

“I saw him with Frankfurt play, he had some special talent, and in the first two, three games with City was disappointing, but yesterday already you feel him comfortable.”

City needed to take the pressure off Haaland

After selling Julian Alvarez last summer, it put the burden squarely on Erling Haaland to score the majority of the team’s goals, and that has had a detrimental effect on the club’s results.

Haaland had, until very recently, been the only player in City’s squad who had scored more than 10. Foden’s recent upturn in form has changed that but there was a clear need for the goals to be shared around.

The addition of Marmoush means that manager Pep Guardiola does have another major goal threat in his armoury.

Marmoush could be unleashed at the Bernabeu

After bagging three goals on Saturday, supporters will be hoping that Guardiola decides to start the Egypitan international against Real Madrid later this week.

Marmoush only made a brief appearance off the bench in the first leg but his goal threat could help turn the tie around in Spain. It will be interesting to see how the manager decides to set his team up on Wednesday night.

Read our exclusive interview with Shaun Wright-Phillips. He talks about why City should still make the top 4 this season.