Manchester City legend Shaun Goater believes Gabriel Jesus has the quality to match the exploits of Sergio Aguero this season. The Brazil international has often played as the back-up striker behind Aguero and that has remained the change during the current campaign with the Argentine once more favoured for a starting role in the Premier League.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Goater said that the Citizens have two top strikers in their ranks and backed Jesus to play a huge role this season, he told: “I think that Gabriel will have a huge part to play this season. He won the Copa America with Brazil, scoring some vital goals and since the start of the season, he has looked really sharp and at it. Gabriel has scored some vital goals for Brazil and for City and I think there’s a belief not only in himself but with the supporters and also with Pep. I really think we could see him playing a huge part and I think he will really be pushing Sergio this season when it comes to goals.”

The Citizens have made a decent start to the season by their standards, considering they have accumulated just 10 points from the opening five league games. They are already five points behind Liverpool at the top of the table and surely can’t afford anymore setbacks for the next few months at the least.

However, that is easier said than done, given manager Pep Guardiola has to deal with a weakened defence. Both Aymeric Laporte and John Stones are on the sidelines and this has left the manager with just one senior central defender in Nicolas Otamendi. Fernandinho was recently the makeshift centre-back during the 3-0 Champions League triumph over Shakhtar Donetsk on the road. Jesus, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez were the scorers.