Edin Dzeko Is Developing into Key Figure for Man City's Premier League Defence

There were spells during Manchester City's 4-2 win over Hull at the KC Stadium on Saturday that demonstrated why Manuel Pellegrini's side are the defending Premier League champions.

Fearless, free-flowing attacking football, invention in possession, an appetite to destroy rather than beat the opposition. It was by no means a vintage City performance, but they produced some excellent football in spells.

In among what was an absorbing 90 minutes of football were two Edin Dzeko goals, the type worthy of winning any match: his first a curling strike into the top corner that left Allan McGregor stranded, the second a superb first-time finish from a difficult angle.

Both goals underlined his growing importance to this side. If City are going to overcome the serious threat posed by Chelsea—a team buoyed by a superb summer transfer window—and reclaim the title they won in May, the Bosnian will be key. Dzeko, thanks to his growing confidence and his near-unblemished injury record, has become central to the side under Pellegrini.

Sergio Aguero is undoubtedly the best striker at the club, one so talented it can often seem like the opposition are unable to shackle him, yet his injury record, which has seen him intermittently affected in recent months, means City often find themselves without his services.

Similarly, Stevan Jovetic, the Montenegrin forward, shows promise every time he is selected, but his progress is often halted by muscle injuries.

Then there's Dzeko, always fit and available, who is now looking quicker, sharper and more confident than ever after some difficult spells in which he struggled to find form and rhythm. He holds the ball up, wins aerial duels, runs harder and further than before and now displays a steeliness in front of goal that marks him out as one of the league's top finishers.

His goals in the run in last season were critical to City winning their second title in three seasons, with Pellegrini's man-management skills clearly having a positive effect in the striker.

Meanwhile, City are now preparing to face Roma in a crucial Champions League tie on Tuesday. Roma have started the Serie A season brilliantly, winning all five of their matches so far, and they will pose a serious threat at the Etihad.

And it's a game City can ill afford to lose. Roma won their opening group game against CSKA Moscow, and City will be desperate to avoid having to go to Rome on Matchday 6 needing anything from the match. In front of a hostile crowd, that would make for an uncomfortable evening. This week's encounter is crucial.

Daniele De Rossi, the Italian side's key midfielder, will miss the match through injury, but they still possess plenty of quality and are certainly capable of causing City problems. Bayern Munich travel to Moscow to play CSKA in the group's other match.

Dzeko's form is likely to be crucial on Tuesday and, indeed, the rest of the season.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes were obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard.