There were many positives to take from Manchester Citys 4-1 win over Stoke City last weekend.Kelechi Iheanachos introduction was particularly exciting, with his body-swerve dummy in the buildup to Citys fourth probably the highlight of the game. The youngster played a significant role in the two goals that sealed the win, further underlining his quality.However, Sergio Agueros header that put City 2-0 up after 36 minutes was also hugely pleasing for Pep Guardiola. The City boss knows that for his side to reach their full potential this season, Agueros form will be vital, and that goal was a perfect demonstration of his penalty-box excellence.Kevin De Bruynes ball in was typically pinpointbut the way Aguero freed himself from the attentions of Glenn Whelan and PhilippWollscheid and planted the header firmly past Shay Given was a clear example of his instincts inside the area. It was a wonderful moment of individual brilliance.City need more from him this season. Despite his remarkable record since moving to the Etihad Stadium back in 2011, he remains outside the elite bracket of players.Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have the ability to regularly dominate games, to grab them by the scruff of the neck and drag their side to victory.https://t.co/TYewWC1P5U Aguero is razor sharp in the opposition box... @btsport Matt Smith (@msmith850) February 24, 2016Luis Suarez has also found more consistency than Aguero in the last two seasons, with his record of 88 goals in 98 games for Barcelona hugely impressive. Citys main man is close to their level, but, as yet, he cant match their output or influence.Much of that is down to his injury record. When Aguero gets a run of injury-free matches, he tends to hit the goal-per-game level he craves more consistently.Indeed, the 2013/14 season was a perfect snapshot of his City career. The first half of the season saw him fit and in top form. He scored 25 goals in 21 games between the 3-0 win away at Viktoria Plzen in September and the 5-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur at the end of Januaryhis best run in a City shirt.His injury at White Hart Lane saw him miss the next five weeks, and when he returned, he managed just two goals in his last nine games.He has constantly had his wings clipped when in full flight. Hes missed 44 matches through injury since becoming a City player, according to Transfermarket.com. Impact injuries are unavoidable and represent bad luck, but repeated hamstring and calf issues suggest a deeper problem. There can be no doubt his career has been affected by his setbacks.Last season, though, saw a big improvement. He remained largely injury-freebut his record of 29 in 44 games, although impressive, could be better for a player of his ability.Here's something rare. Aguero missing TWO penalties... @btsport https://t.co/etwiV7Ae5E Des Kelly (@DesKellyBTS) August 16, 2016In total, hes scored 142 goals in 210 games for City across all competitions. He reached 100 goals quicker than anyone in the clubs history, and he has the best goals-per-minute ratio in Premier League history. He has managed a goal every 106 minutes. The next best return on the list is Thierry Henrys record of a goal every 122 minutes.By that measure, at least, Aguero can lay claim to being the most lethal striker the English top flight has seen since its revamp in 1992.But Guardiola, quite rightly, feels theres more to come. Last season in the Champions League, he scored just two goals in nine appearances as City made it to the semi-finals for the first time, and in the last five of those games, he didnt manage a single shot on target. His influence needs to increase if he wants to sit alongside the very best in the game.Of course, Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar and Suarez are playing for the best two club sides in the world. Barcelona and Real Madrid have the strongest squads in the game and have achieved far more success than City in recent times.Goal per game since signing for their current clubs:Suarez: 0.9Messi: 0.86Ronaldo: 1.04Neymar: 0.6Aguero: 0.67Aguero, though, has more to offer, and his start under Guardiola has offered a glimpse of what he can produce under the new managers guidance. Guardiola feels there are subtle improvements he can make to his game."To score five goals in two games is a good statistic," Guardiola told reporters after the win over Stoke. "From the beginning, we spoke with Sergio. He knows we are here to help him to play the way to create as many chances as possible and more chances to score goals."But he has to help us. Its not enough to receive the ball from his team-mates. He has to help us in the first pressure and run a lot and help us a lot with movement."Until now hes doing it, and when that happens, you are involved in defensive tasks and the offensive. You cannot be brilliant when you disappear when you dont have the ball. Its impossible."Football is a connection between what you have with the ball and without the ball. In the Sunderland game and the last two games, he did itand we cant forget you need more training sessions."At 28 and with a manager as tactically shrewd as Guardiola, who has a fine record of improving the performance level of his players, everything is set up for Aguero to kick on become even betterto enter the conversation about who the worlds best players are. Adjustments to his own game, as well as the more free-flowing, attacking style favoured but Guardiola, should see his output increase."I have already said that, after Ronaldo and Messi, he is the best player in the world," said former City manager Manuel Pellegrini last year."We need to win the Premier League again and to win the Champions League, because Messi and Ronaldo are always involved in that competition and thats very important for a player."Guardiola is on a mission to make City a successful side, domestically and in Europe. If he can do that, through a combination of new tactics and improved fitness, as well as the additions hes made, that in itself will help Aguero.Now is the time for City's star man to take his game to new heights.Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.
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