MANCHESTER -- Kelechi Iheanacho is targeting his first medal at Manchester City just six months after making his senior debut.
Iheanacho, who has made a spectacular start to his City career scoring nine goals from just six starts, is likely to be on the bench for Sunday's Capital One Cup final against Liverpool.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini has a lot of faith in the 19-year-old and said he was the reason he allowed fellow forwards Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic to leave the club in the summer without signing a replacement.
With Wilfried Bony now fit, Iheanacho faces a battle to feature at Wembley but he insists he will be ready if Pellegrini needs him.
The Nigerian striker told reporters: "I am very happy to be in the Capital One Cup final so I am looking forward to it. I think I have come up quick. I have worked quite hard to be here so keep working hard. If I start it is fine but if I am a substitute I will just wait to get a go.
"I am very happy to hear that from the boss and to not sign another striker, believe in me, trust in me so I need to give him the best and give the team the best.
"I am pleased, I am happy scoring a few goals this season. It has not been easy but I think hard work has worked so I will continue working hard every day in training and games."
Such has been the rise of Iheanacho that he was given a place in City's Champions League squad earlier this month ahead of Samir Nasri, who is still recovering from a long-term tendon injury.
He made his European debut on Wednesday night in the 3-1 victory over Dynamo Kiev and the forward believes City will have to put in a similar performance if they are to lift the trophy against Liverpool.
He said: "It is very important, the Champions League so I am happy to be among the squad and making my debut in the Champions League. I hope for more to come.
"I think we need to put that performance [in again] because we really did well. We really bring out our best and play good football so we need to show the same desire.
"Everyone came out to play and did his 100 percent best. If we reflect that in the final, I think we will win."
The win in Kiev came after a run of three defeats with City losing the third of those 5-1 to Chelsea in the FA Cup. Pellegrini played a young side at Stamford Bridge, starting with six teenagers including Iheanacho.
However, the striker laughed off suggestions that he was among the experienced players despite five youngsters making their debut.
He added: "I am a young player as well so I don't count myself as a senior player. I am a young player coming up so we did very really well in that game but unfortunately we lost.
"It is for them to keep working hard and coming up as well and to have belief in the young players because they are good."