Kovacic is learning new tricks at Man City as he looks for historic triple

Mateo Kovacic is starting to repay Pep Guardiola's faith at Manchester City. 

The midfielder scored his first goal for the club since his summer move from Chelsea in Tuesday's triumph over Urawa Red Diamonds. 

We take a look at Kovacic's form ahead of City's Club World Cup final against Fluminense this evening.

History maker

Kovacic played a major part in City reaching the showpiece.

With the score at 1-0, the Croatian picked up possession midway in the opposition half and ran 20 yards with the ball before confidently firing home. 

City eventually won 3-0 and though it will be their first appearance in a Club World Cup final, that is far from the case for Kovacic. 

The 29-year-old has already won this tournament twice with Real Madrid and once during his time at Chelsea. 

He now has the chance to make history by becoming the first player to lift the Club World Cup with three different teams. 

Such experience of lifting major silverware was no doubt in Guardiola's thinking when he moved for Kovacic. 

Signed from Chelsea for £25million, the player was a direct replacement for Ilkay Gundogan when he left the Treble winners.

Gundogan comparisons

Kovacic's goal saw comparisons drawn with Gundogan from a former City legend. 

Shaun Wright-Phillips was on punditry duty for the club and praised the strike.

He said: "He was in a position that Gundogan would [be in], that third man run where he'd run in behind. 

"The finish was exquisite, he just took his time, breathed and side-foot, roof of the net. 

"It'd be nice for him to have that because he's had a few half chances where he could've done better so he just made sure with this one. Hopefully there are lots more to come now." 

Goals are certainly something that have been missing from Kovacic's game with the Croat having only scored 22 career goals from 508 appearances. 

It may therefore seem fanciful that he could replicate the threat of Gundogan but it is worth remembering that the latter was not a regular scorer for the majority of his career. 

The 33-year-old only broke into double figures during his final three seasons at City and since joining Barcelona, has just two goals from 24 appearances. 

Kovacic regret

If any manager is capable of teaching Kovacic new tricks it is Guardiola. 

In November, the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid man expressed regret that he did not get to work with the respected coach earlier on in his career. 

He said: "It's amazing and tough because I'm learning a lot of new things and I would have loved to come at an earlier age to learn. 

"But it's never too late to learn. I think like that. So I'm happy I can learn from him and what he tells you. 

"I would've loved someone to have told me a few years ago. But yeah, now I can still learn and you can really tell he is fantastic." 

Kovacic has had major shoes to fill with Gundogan leaving and Kevin De Bruyne being injured since the first Premier League game of the season. 

With the Belgian playmaker nearing a return, it will be fascinating to see how they play in tandem. 

De Bruyne's passing ability means that we could be seeing more goals from Kovacic before long.