Team-mates hail 'goal machine' Aguero

London (AFP) – Sergio Aguero’s sixth Premier League hat-trick in the 6-0 demolition of Watford drew unstinting praise from his Manchester City team-mates on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Argentinian — who needs just three goals to become Manchester City’s all-time leading scorer and replace Eric Brook who has held the record of 177 since 1939 — is a ‘goal machine’ according to Ilkay Gundogan.

Now only Alan Shearer with 11, Robbie Fowler with nine and Michael Owen and Thierry Henry with eight, have more Premier League hat-tricks.

“He’s very special, just a goal machine,” Gundogan told City’s official website.

“His last goal was incredible, it showed all his talent and how powerful he is.

“We need him and hopefully he’ll score a lot more goals.”

Aguero could have had four goals but he stepped aside to allow Raheem Sterling to take a penalty against Watford — the England international converted it but was left purring about his team-mate’s clinical finishing.

“You can see every game that if you give Sergio a chance, nine times out of 10 it’s a goal,” said Sterling.

City’s thrashing of an in-form Watford side sent them top of the table and they have now scored 15 goals and conceded none in three matches in eight days.