Sergio Aguero needs time to return to best form, says Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola

Manager says team's 20-match winning run may be greatest accomplishment

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Sergio Aguero needs time to recapture his best form after a prolonged period on the sidelines and warned the Argentine he will have to fight for his spot in the squad.

A combination of injuries and Covid-19 have restricted Aguero to 11 appearances this season. He made his first start in four months in Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win over West Ham United, which marked City's 20th straight victory in all competitions.

Guardiola said Aguero, City's record scorer with 256 goals, remains a key player of the team.

"He knows it from day one, the guys who play deserve to play," Guardiola said. "It's not just for Sergio - it's for everyone. I try to make fair decisions.

"Sergio is so important for us. He has special talents and special quality.

"There will be games that are tight and difficult and we need a goal - who is the best guy in these terms? Him.

"But he is coming back after a year and needs time."

City are top of the table with 62 points after 26 games, 12 points above rivals Manchester United.

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City's 20-match winning run

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Guardiola said overseeing the team's 20-game winning run may be one of the greatest achievements of his glittering career.

Goals from Ruben Dias and John Stones fired City to a 2-1 win over the Hammers and moved them 12 points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table.

City racked up a record 100 points in their title-winning campaign in 2017/18 and won all four domestic trophies the following season but Guardiola believes their current win streak in a season impacted by the coronavirus pandemic ranks as one of his finest moments.

"In this period, in this era, with this situation, to be able to do 20, maybe it is one of greatest achievements we have done together in our careers," Guardiola said.

"That doesn't mean a title win but this period in time, the toughest period in England, [to have] no one week of rest for three or four months, every three days a game, with the Covid, injury situations. To be on this kind of run - winning, winning, winning - means mental strength."

City host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday.