Solskjær believes today's Man City strikers as replica of Man United 1999

 For Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester City’s strikers are well on field to overtake the scoring feats of Manchester United’s 1999 Treble-winning forwards.

He also considers Yorke, Cole and Sheringham, read Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko in 2014 as wonderful trios that Cardiff come up stuck at the Etihad.

Solskjaer knows how it feels and what it is like to be on the receiving end of a strikeforce, bristling with more firepower than the Bismarck.

Fifteen years ago, Solskjaer was part of that legendary quartet, along with Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham, which fired Manchester United to the Treble.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær © therepublikofmancunia.com

City are the new goal kings and Dzeko’s opener against Cardiff at the Etihad brought up the ton in only their 34th game.

They have reached this ­milestone quicker than any other Premier League side and 10 matches earlier than even Solskjaer and co did.

The Norwegian appreciates their quality and hailed Aguero as one of the top five players in the world.

“We had a terrific side at United in 1999 and these strikers are in great form for Man City,” said the Cardiff boss. “They have got three top, top strikers and they can also play with little David Silva in behind – so Manuel Pellegrini has got loads of attacking options.

“It’s a great position to be in when you can rotate and have strikers on form like they have. You are talking about a squad with top, top quality.

“I like Aguero and, for me, before his injury, he was within the top five players in the world.”

Pellegrini’s attacking options are mouthwatering and City put four past Cardiff, despite Negredo being off colour and Samir Nasri being injured.

Jesus Navas capably ­deputised for Nasri, while Pellegrini replaced Negredo with Aguero and the Argentine duly scored his 21st of the season. Pablo Zabaleta says this strength in depth means they are not reliant on a single player.

“In football, you have to be prepared for when someone important is missing or suspended,” said the ­Argentine right-back.

“It was great to see Sergio back again, but Edin and Negredo have been doing really well without him. Sometimes the competition between them is all about scoring goals.”

If the forwards are not ­delivering, City can always rely on Yaya Toure, and the midfield powerhouse sealed victory by scoring the third and setting up Aguero for the fourth.

The newly-crowned African Player of the Year had been quiet but produced a typical barnstorming run, exchanging passes with Aguero before scoring.

Zabaleta said: “He’s scored 14 goals this season and, for a central midfielder, that’s fantastic.

“He probably is one of the best midfielders in the world. He’s the complete player.”

Cardiff made it hard for City for three quarters of the game, and Craig Noone cancelled out Dzeko’s opener with a fine goal on 29 minutes, before Navas restored the Blues’ advantage four minutes later.

Joe Hart twice denied the impressive Noone before Toure broke Cardiff’s resistance on 76 minutes with the killer third.

The only cloud on City’s otherwise brilliant blue horizon was their defending and Martin Demichelis and Vincent Kompany were caught out for Cardiff’s first, while Fraizer Campbell was left unmarked to make it 4-2 at the death.

It did not matter against the Bluebirds, but it will if City are as sloppy here on February 18 against Barcelona in the ­Champions League.

Zabaleta feels this is a risk City run because they are so attacking.

“Always if you concede two you will be a bit disappointed,” he added.

“We conceded a couple of silly goals and we have to defend much better than that.

“But sometimes when you play like we do, trying to be an offensive team, you can get a little bit exposed.”

United’s quartet of Solskjaer, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and Teddy Sheringham scored 76 goals that season – Yorke 29, Cole 24, Solskjaer 18, Sheringham 5.

Manuel Pellegrini’s strikeforce of Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic, who has been out with injury, have 60 already – Aguero 21, Negredo 21, Dzeko 16, Jovetic 2.

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