Anyone who witnessed the dazzling demolition job Wright-Phillips did on sorry Southampton would find it hard to dispute the City manager’s assessment that he is one of the finest players in Europe.  But the diminutive adopted son of former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright is not the only star shining brightly for the blue half of Manchester these days.

Pick that one out lads... Wright-Phillips fires his cracker

If they dished out a New Year’s Honours award for football’s comeback king, then Robbie Fowler would have to be a prime contender.

It is exactly two years since Fowler completed his £6million switch from Leeds to City and it has hardly been the most rewarding spell of the former England striker’s career.

In fact it has been one long, hard battle to rediscover the form and fitness that once made HIM the top flight’s most exciting performer with Liverpool a decade ago.

There have been times when it appeared a frustrated Fowler had virtually given up the fight and resigned himself to the fact his best days were behind him.

So the boot up the backside he received in September when Keegan left him out of the side for a month could not have been more timely. Or more productive.

Fowler, 29, responded by getting himself back in peak condition and hitting the form that earned him his Anfield nickname, Toxteth Terror.

And the standing ovation he received from City fans when he came off three minutes from time must have been music to his ears.

Fowler and David James have a friendship that stretches back to their days together as Spice Boys at Liverpool.

And City’s keeper revealed: “Robbie has grown up and his attitude overall has been so much better recently.

Collectors piece ... Paul Bosvelt heads Man City's opener

“Looking at his performances you can definitely see the influence he is having on the team.

“We are starting to see him again as the very talented player we all know he is.

“And it just shows that, if you are going to work hard in training, the you will perform better in matches.

“It is possible to have a good spell when you are training badly. But only for a short period of time — then it will catch up with you.

“During that spell Robbie was out of the side he worked very hard doing everything that was asked of him. And there has been a considerable improvement from him.

“A lot of that is down to the boss because he made the decision to take him out of the team.

“It was obvious Robbie wanted to improve. I know him well and we do talk about things. But he is not the type to come and ask for help.

“He likes to sort it out for himself although, having said that, when people talk he does listen.”

Fowler had a 34th-minute header cleared off the line by Danny Higginbotham and his contribution against sinking Saints was immense.

But it was still Wright-Phillips who stole the show with a display that would have had Sven Goran Eriksson, as well as Keegan, drooling.

Keegan enthused: “Shaun is the most exciting player in the Premiership. Throw any name you want at me, and I’ll put them No 2 behind him.

“He is terrific and our most important player. Shaun is so special.

DEJECTED ... Redknapp shows the agony of another defeat

“He has everything — you could put him on a concrete patch and he would still be the best player.

“If he keeps performing like this it is inevitable he will play for England. And, once he gets in, you won’t get him out.

“The fans will love him, the players will love him and the coach will love him.”

Wright-Phillips tortured Saints brittle back four constantly and killed them off with a breathtaking goal five minutes before the break.

City were already one-up courtesy of Paul Bosvelt’s glancing header after Richard Dunne had nodded on Fowler’s 19th minute corner.

Wright-Phillips then took a pass from Richard Dunne in the centre-circle, skated past two challenges and drilled home a 25-yard drive which went in off the foot of Antti Niemi’s post.

The sheer brilliance of it was even enough to have new St Mary’s boss Harry Redknapp momentarily forgetting his own troubles.

Redknapp said: “That little lad is going to be a big star. I would love to see him get in the England team because he is so exciting.

“He has fantastic pace and ability. He is a real talent, that’s for sure.”

’Arry Boy was far less enthusiastic about the survival prospects of his side.

Kevin Phillips gave the scoreline a semblance of respectability with a 90th-minute penalty after sub Peter Crouch had tumbled under a challenge by City skipper Sylvain Distin.

And the Saints striker wrongly had a 59th-minute effort ruled out for offside.

But Redknapp is still looking for his first win since replacing Steve Wigley.

He will get much of the £6.5million either Aston Villa or Everton will pay for James Beattie to spend on new signings and wants five — son Jamie from Spurs, Celtic’s John Hartson, Newcastle defender Titus Bramble and Liverpool duo Stephane Henchoz and Igor Biscan.

Redknapp said: “We lack that bit of quality and need to bring in five new players. That might just give us enough to stay up this year.”

DREAM TEAM STAR MAN: SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS (Man City) - Great goal put the icing on a fabulous individual performance.