MANCHESTER -- Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed that Sergio Aguero had needed treatment on a hamstring injury at half-time as he recorded the quickest ever five-goal tally in Premier League history.
Aguero struck five times in 20 minutes as City, who had been 1-0 down, recovered to beat Newcastle 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Pellegrini substituted Aguero with 25 minutes remaining, which cost him the chance to become the first man to score six goals in a game in the division, but said it had been a precautionary decision.
He told a news conference: "Maybe he can score one or two more, but we have to have a precaution because he can be injured.
"He needed treatment at half-time. He has a kick in his hamstring so it was important just to relax him because he was not 100 percent comfortable."
Pellegrini praised his centre-forward, adding: "It is always amazing to see a player score five goals.
#INSERT type:image caption:Sergio Aguero celebrates the third of his five goals against Newcastle. END#
"I am very happy for Kun. He deserves it. He is always a player who makes a difference. For different reasons in the last games, he missed important chances but he was calm.
"He demonstrates every year what he can do. Last year he was the top scorer of the Premier League. Three years ago, he decides the title in two minutes."
Aguero had not scored in 465 minutes of Premier League football before his equaliser, but Pellegrini said the 27-year-old had not been worried by that drought.
"He was not nervous because he was not scoring," he said. "He knows with his quality and the way we play he will score. This team always will try to score more goals and play attractive football."
Pellegrini deflected questions about whether Aguero was the best striker he has worked with, saying: "I don't want to compare. It is not fair. I am very happy with Kun. I was very lucky to work with Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Diego Forlan."
The City boss removed Raheem Sterling at half-time and said it was a tactical move, adding: "Raheem was not injured. It was not a good day for Raheem."