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Southampton's Sadio Mane scores fastest-ever Premier League hat trick

Southampton forward Sadio Mane has made Premier League history by scoring the fastest-ever hat trick in just two minutes and 56 seconds in a 6-1 win over Southampton.

Mane smashed the record previously held by Liverpool's Robbie Fowler as the Senegal international took his tally for the season up to 10 goals in the Premier League.

Fowler scored his treble in four minutes 33 seconds against Arsenal in August 1994.

Mane rode challenges from Ron Vlaar and Alan Hutton before bundling home the rebound after Villa goalkeeper Shay Given had saved his initial shot to give Southampton the lead after 12 minutes and 22 seconds.

Vlaar gifted Mane and Southampton a second on 13 minutes and 46 seconds as his poor backpass sold Given short to allow Mane to bundle home from close range.

Mane then saved the best for last when he curled Shane Long's pass on the edge of the area past Given to seal his record-breaking hat trick in fine style on 15 minutes and 18 seconds.

Mane was surprised to hear of his achievement after the match but insisted the result meant more after a run of four league matches without a win.

He told BT Sport: "It's great, but I think more important for me was the victory and we got that, so I'm happy for the team and the fans.

"We have a chance [to qualify for the Europa League] and we'll try to win the next game. It won't be easy but we'll keep going and try to win that next game.

"We have a great team.The last few weeks were not easy but we had to work every day and finally we got the victory."

The fastest hat trick in English football was scored by Bournemouth's James Hayter against Wrexham in February 2004, timed at 2 minutes and 20 seconds.

The Guinness World Record is 1 minute and 30 seconds, held by Tommy Ross for Ross County against Nairn County in November 1964.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.