Omar Marmoush: How Egyptian striker can pick up Man City’s goalscoring slack

It is that issue Guardiola was trying to address when he called contacts in Germany to check up on Marmoush after sporting director Txiki Begiristain had put the Egyptian’s name forward as a part of City’s overall £180m January transfer window spend.

“When Txiki came to me I said, because of the season we had, the more players you bring the better,” said Guardiola.

“I called some contacts in Germany because I have friends there. I asked a few things and there was a high opinion in many things; behaviour, in training sessions, goals.

“He’s young and comes here to make his career. That is why the club decides. They always have the last word.”

Marmoush had already demanded attention through the 20 goals he scored for Eintracht in the first half of this season.

At 26, City were buying someone approaching the prime of their career.

On the evidence of his performance against Newcastle, Marmoush drives forward with purpose when the ball is at his feet, is quick and can find space.

Evidently he presents a danger opposition defences cannot ignore – and Newcastle could not contain.

That, in turn, may take some of the focus away from Haaland.

“We knew with the dynamic he would be good,” added Guardiola. “In Germany he made good numbers and he had three chances last week against [Leyton] Orient but didn’t score.

“He likes to attack the space. It is simple. When you play well, everybody adapts quick. Hopefully he can handle the biggest compliments because they will come now.”

It was one of those rare occasions when Haaland didn’t score and contributed a single assist, for James McAtee, six minutes from time.

Yet his industry was notable, leading from the front in a performance befitting his status as captain for the first time.