Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says Wilfried Bony is not yet 100 per cent after victory over West Bromwich Albion.
It has been a slow start at the Etihad for the powerful forward, having signed for the club over two months ago.
But Bony was helping Ivory Coast to the African Cup of Nations trophy in January and February, and the manager believes he is still struggling from that effort.
Asked on Bony's goal and performance, the Chilean responded: "It is important for him.
"He is just arriving to our squad and he is coming from playing six games in 18 days in the [African Cup of Nations].
"That is not good for players in this moment of the season. That is maybe why he is not always in the starting XI but it is important not only for Bony but for all the players when you have the chance to do it, to do it as he did today."