Aguero’s absence makes boosted Man City striker a sizzling bet

Edin Dzeko has taken up Manchester City’s goal-scoring slack with aplomb of late, netting three times in his last two starts, with his match-winning brace against Everton representing arguably his most important goals in sky blue to date.

One slight downside of that vital Dzeko-inspired Goodison Park triumph for the title favourites, though, was yet another niggling injury sustained by the game’s opening scorer Sergio Aguero.

City’s leading scorer this season limped off after only 26 minutes against Everton with a groin injury that will now keep him out of their midweek clash at home to Aston Villa.

However, Aguero’s misfortune does mean punters should capitalise on another fantastic price boost offer from Ladbrokes about Dzeko breaking the deadlock against Villa at the Etihad.

The big Bosnian’s odds to get his name lit up on the scoreboard first have been enhanced from 11/4 out to a whopping 7/2.

Whopping for multiple reasons, not least that Dzeko is in the midst of a purple patch, racking up three from his last two league starts and seven goals in his last nine.

But also because, of the 14 top-flight goals City’s least-heralded striker has banged in this season, no fewer than six of those have represented the first goal of the game.

If City do go on and win the Premier League title, then Dzeko’s contribution to the cause will have been considerable and a another few in the last two games may even persuade his current employers to keep hold of him this summer.

Despite the target man netting 24 goals in all competitions for the Citizens this season, speculation has been rife that his future lies away from the Etihad, with Inter Milan the main suspects.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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