Sergio Aguero has warned Manchester City's title rivals he will do everything in his power to fire the club to Premier League glory this season.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring during their FA Cup match against Watford in Manchester on January 25, 2014
Aguero scored a hat-trick in City's FA Cup fourth round win over Watford to take his goal tally so far this term to a remarkable 25 from 24 appearances.
While Aguero's second half treble once again showcased his sublime skills, more significantly the goals spared City's blushes after Manuel Pellegrini's team trailed 2-0 against second tier Watford.
Pellegrini, whose side continue their challenge for the Premier League title at Tottenham on Wednesday, later branded City's defending in the 4-2 win as a "disaster" and said he could have made 11 substitutions at half-time.
Fortunately for the City manager, Aguero is in the form of his life and shows little sign of being slowed by the calf injury that sidelined him over the Christmas period.
Since returning to fitness, Aguero has scored six times in four matches to keep City firmly in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple trophy haul.
The 25-year-old is happy to take the plaudits when he shines, but he is more concerned with ensuring City finish the year with silverware.
"The important thing is the goals contribute to the team's victories and we win titles," Aguero said.
"I don't have any specific goals to reach but (I want) as many as possible.
"We weren't expecting to score four goals. We knew at half-time we needed to improve and in the end we won and we have made it to the next round. We are happy with that."
City travel to White Hart Lane unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions and having scored 22 goals in their previous five games.
But Pellegrini's team will have to maintain that blistering pace to keep in touch with leaders Arsenal, who have been in fine form themselves.
The Gunners can open up a four-point lead at the top if they win at Southampton on Tuesday, leaving City will little margin for error when they arrive in north London.
If Aguero does draw a rare blank on Wednesday, Pellegrini can still turn to a battery of other top-class strikers, including Montenegro international Stevan Jovetic, who has finally recovered from a series of ailments.
Jovetic has endured a torrid time since his pound sterling22 million move from Fiorentina due to a succession of injuries and illnesses.
Jovetic suffered a hamstring injury in pre-season, another early in the campaign, and he then limped out of a game in October with a calf problem.
He was due to return for the League Cup quarter-final at Leicester in December but went down with food poisoning and then injured a quad muscle.
The 24-year-old is now back in contention and after making two successive substitute appearances he is anxious for more game time with a team that has clocked up 110 goals this season
"It's much easier when you play and score goals but unfortunately for me it's not been a good way to start," he said.
"But I know I can do so many good things for this club. I hope I will show that in the next four months.
"There's a lot of games, so hopefully we'll win a lot of trophies."
Fifth-placed Tottenham should pose a stern test of City's title credentials after improving quickly under new manager Tim Sherwood.
Sherwood, who replaced the sacked Andre Villas-Boas in December, has masterminded five wins in his six league matches in charge and his team are desperate to avenge the embarrassing 6-0 loss they suffered against City at Eastlands in November.
"Hopefully we can put it right now. Everybody wants to be 110 percent for this game," Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen said.
"Everyone knows you have to be on your toes when you play City. We have to be at our top level and that is what we want to achieve."