Phil Foden believes his blossoming partnership with fellow derby hat-trick hero Erling Haaland is only going to improve with time.

On a historic Sunday afternoon at the Etihad, Foden and Haaland were both in blistering form, bagging a treble apiece, as City overwhelmed United 6-3 in the 188th Manchester derby.

It was Haaland’s third consecutive Premier League hat-trick on home soil. For Foden, meanwhile, he celebrated his first-ever senior treble for City in unforgettable style.

The pair dovetailed superbly on an afternoon that will long be remembered by every City fan.

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And Foden believes that Sunday’s demolition derby only scratched at the surface of the pair’s potential and understanding with Haaland having only joined the Club from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

“We are definitely getting more used to Erling within the team, and I am building a connection with him which is nice to see,” Foden reflected.

“He’s such a big talent and I am just enjoying playing with him.

“He is such a new player and we are all still getting used to playing with him.

“It’s scary to think what he has already done in the team, and he is not even settled yet. It is still a new partnership.

“There are a lot of things that we can improve and get better on. We have to build on this result now and keep getting better.

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“His attitude to football is fantastic. He is always doing the right things.”

On what was a landmark day for City, Foden’s second strike of the afternoon saw him clock up 50 career goals for City.

It also meant the 22-year-old became the youngest player to achieve that notable feat playing under Pep Guardiola, surpassing the record previously held by Lionel Messi.

For his part, Foden expressed his gratitude for the manager’s trust, guidance and support towards him.

“I have got a lot to thank him for, looking at the quality of the team and for him to trust me,” Foden added.

“I have got a lot to thank him for and I enjoy working for him every day.

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“To be able to score three was special for me. It’s been a long time coming. I have scored two goals a couple of times now but, thankfully, I am happy to score a hat-trick.

“I have been dreaming about scoring against Manchester United.

“Things just fell for me in the right areas and I am really thankful that I put them away.”