Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says Kelechi Iheanacho's hat-trick against Aston Villa proves the club were right to allow established stars Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic to leave.
The 19-year-old striker took full advantage of Sergio Aguero being rested to score three times in the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Villa Park on Saturday, with Raheem Sterling netting the other in an easy 4-0 win.
"Kelechi is a very good young player," the Chilean told BBC Sport.
"We let Jovetic and Dzeko go because I see Kelechi every day and know what he can do. I am very happy.
"We made some important changes because it is important to rotate with so many matches to play. Bacary Sagna played well at centre-back, he didn't make any mistakes and [Willy] Caballero was solid in goal."
The manager added: "I told Bacary Sagna to tell Kelechi to take the penalty. I see him take penalties every day, so he was in charge."
The win means City, who are back in action at Sunderland in the Premier League on Tuesday, are still in contention to win all four major trophies they are competing for this season.
