Phil Foden is back. The Manchester City midfielder scored his first-ever Champions League hat-trick on Tuesday as City swept aside AEK Athens 5-1 at the Etihad, their second win of the league phase.

Foden had waited 10 months for a goal before scoring against Ipswich Town at the weekend. Four days later he had four goals in two games. Elliot Anderson opened the scoring on 12 minutes, reacting quickest after Enzo Fernandez’s free-kick hit the crossbar, for his first goal for the club. Foden doubled the lead on 34 minutes from a Rico Lewis assist.

AEK briefly threatened a shock when Stavros Pilios pulled one back on 52 minutes, but Rayan Cherki restored the cushion five minutes later, and Foden finished the job with goals on 65 and 76 minutes, both set up by Lewis and youngster Ryan McAidoo.

City did it all without Erling Haaland, who was rested entirely, with 17-year-old Floyd Samba deputising. Manager Enzo Maresca made his point: this City side has plenty of ways to score. It was City’s 10th win in 12 matches in all competitions this season.

“Still got a long way to go, but I am going in the right direction,” Foden said. “I want to keep working hard and keep being the best I can for the manager and the team.”