Anelka is City kingpin: Keegan

Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan says that on-form striker Nicolas Anelka can get even better and help his side climb further up the Premiership hierarchy.

The 20 million dollar French international rifled home a fine 83rd-minute winner at Keegan's former club Fulham yesterday for his ninth goal of the season.

That lifted City to ninth place in the league and brought effusive praise from Keegan who took a chance in signing the moody Anelka from Liverpool in the close season.

"Nicolas is, without doubt, the most unbelievable talent - and it's starting to come out in a big way for Man City.

"When you're talking about talent, you're talking about talent with a massive 'T'. And I like working with him an awful lot.

"He's the most exciting player to work with because, despite what everybody thinks, this guy hasn't reached anywhere near his full potential - and that's what's frightening."

Asked if he believes Anelka will fulfil his potential, Keegan insisted: "I do, yes. We'll keep working with him and he can go as far as he wants to go.

"We're not talking about a good player. We're talking about an a exceptional player who is only 23 and will get better.

"I've got to think back to when I was 23 and what I was doing then. He's got five years on me in that respect.

"He's a Rolls Royce who just purrs along - he doesn't run. He lives for goals and got another one yesterday."

Keegan also said that Anelka did not deserve his bad boy reputation.

"You can understand why he's got some of the press he's had - but that's not the Nicolas Anelka I know," Keegan added. "He's a very quiet lad and a nice guy.

"And he's got a very good attitude on the football pitch, don't worry about that.

"He's very, very focused and knows what he wants to do. But he can't always do it as we've had games this year when he's worked his socks off for the cause. Our fans love him because he's done that for us this year.