Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini explained taking off five-goal Sergio Aguero during their rout of Newcastle United.

Aguero's haul equalled a Premier League record held jointly by Andy Cole, Jermain Defoe, Dimitar Berbatov and Alan Shearer for the most goals scored by one player in a match.

He might have gone on to surpass the mark had he not been substituted by manager Manuel Pellegrini in the 66th minute, but it was later revealed the 27-year-old had been carrying a knock.

Aguero said: "I've just realised here in the dressing room that I equalled this record but the most important thing is that we won this game and got the three points.

"I had a problem with my hamstring in the last game in the Champions League against Borussia (Monchengladbach) but now I am feeling good. It was a good decision from the manager to change me because it means no risk."

Pellegrini added: "He had a serious kick from Wednesday in Germany. He was having some treatment during half-time.

"To give him more minutes, maybe he would have scored one or two goals more, but we need more to take a precaution about his kick because he could get injured."

When asked more about the nature of his treatment at the interval, Pellegrini said: "Maybe it was very good treatment!

"He had a kick in his hamstring, so it was important just to relax him a little bit because he was not 100 per cent comfortable."