There were few complaints when Julian Alvarez was named in the Manchester City starting line up against Nottingham Forest, and it was hardly a surprise.
Pep Guardiola had talked him up in recent press conferences, saying he could have had a hat-trick in the friendly against Barcelona and praised his 'unsung' role in City's comeback vs Crystal Palace off the bench. 'You will see,' said the boss when praising Alvarez, and predicting big things from him in the coming weeks when the fixtures start coming every three days.
However, while Guardiola rewarded Alvarez with a start, it came alongside Erling Haaland, meaning he was not used in his natural position and - quite literally - played in his shadow for the first half.
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Lining up in an attacking midfield position behind Haaland, Alvarez was given a supportive role similar to the one Kevin De Bruyne has been playing recently, just with more runs off the ball behind the defence rather than with the ball in front of the opposition.
He was busy early on, prodding a corner towards Dean Henderson and forcing a save, but faded slightly as City knocked the ball from side to side - sometimes bypassing him - and Haaland stole the show with his second hat-trick in as many halves.
There was some good hold-up play and harrying of the defence, but it wasn't until the 43rd minute that Alvarez could show a glimpse of his striker abilities. He nicked the ball off a defender, kept it close, and sent a good effort off the outside of the post from 20 yards.
Alvarez may have hoped for Haaland to be replaced at half-time with bigger tests coming up, but he remained on the pitch, and wasn't taken off in the first round of changes, either. That left Alvarez still fighting for Haaland's scraps, and getting few chances to get involved.
One good run saw him win a corner as a low cross for Haaland was cut out, showing glimpses of a relationship between the two developing, before he finally showed why Guardiola is so happy with him when he came alive to score a thoroughly deserved goal.
With Haaland occupied, Alvarez made a run that Sergio Aguero would be proud of between the full-back and centre-back on the right side, collected Riyad Mahrez's nice flick, and fired confidently across Henderson and into the far corner.
When Haaland finally went off, Alvarez continued his impressive display, and sprinted the length of the pitch to join a breakaway attack from a Forest free kick, time his run into the box perfectly, and fire in a loose ball to complete the 6-0 rout.
If his first goal was like an Aguero finish, the second was a run that his compatriot would be proud of, and the overall performance from Alvarez was full of runs and presses of a young Aguero in general.
Guardiola said this week that what surprised him most about Alvarez was how good he was, and his tireless performance here showed why he would make a manager so happy. The two goals were added bonuses.
After the game, the manager heaped praise on Alvarez, saying his goals were a reward for his hard work since joining the club.
"I have the feeling that there is not one person who is not happy for Julian’s two goals," he said.
"We’ve seen from day one in training about him. Joan Patsy [City scout] told me a year and a half ago how special he was. He is young, has scored a lot of goals at River Plate with a lot of pressure to win, and he is well educated. We have two strikers with incredible quality. Erling is our first number nine but if teams defend deep it is good to have the two guys there – it is so important."
Alvarez may have to wait patiently for his chances, and they may have to come in games where Haaland still takes all the headlines. Behind Haaland's goals, though, Alvarez could be a secret weapon who could already be starting to prove Guardiola's predictions right.
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