Sergio Aguero: Manuel Pellegrini says Man City striker can get better

Sergio Aguero (14) has scored more goals than Sunderland (13) in the Premier League this season

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says there is more to come from in-form striker Sergio Aguero.

The 26-year-old Argentine took his Premier League and Champions League goal tally for the season to 19 with two in the 4-1 win at Sunderland.

"Sergio is only 26 and he can improve every day," said Pellegrini.

"At the moment we are seeing very high performances from him. Not only is he scoring but he is playing well as well."

Aguero's haul includes all four in a 4-1 rout of Tottenham on 18 October and a hat-trick in the 3-2 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on 25 November.

The former Atletico Madrid player equalised with a sublime 16-yard finish after Sunderland had taken the lead through Connor Wickham at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.

Stevan Jovetic and Pablo Zabaleta also found the net before Aguero completed the rout by sweeping home James Milner's pass.

Aguero is the Premier League's leading scorer with 14, three more than Chelsea's Diego Costa.

But Pellegrini was keen to praise the team effort against Sunderland as City remained six points behind leaders Chelsea after a third straight top-flight win.

"He is an important player but it is not just Sergio Aguero," added the City boss.

"We play in a way that it is very useful for him to score. But it is important for him not just to think about scoring but to play for the team.

"The team is coming again in their performances and all the players are having more trust in what we are doing, but we must continue the same way."

Aguero's two goals helped City end a run of four successive defeats at the Stadium of Light.

"We were able to lift the curse in a tricky field. The goals? Always the more enjoyable when we win," tweeted Aguero after the game.