Daniel Farke would happily trade a dry spell for Teemu Pukki if it meant Norwich City staying in the Premier League.

City's survival prospects could hinge on Pukki carrying on his prolific start to the new season, after becoming the first Canaries' player to score a top flight hat-trick since 1993 in the 3-1 home win over Newcastle.

The Finn is joint top scorer in the Premier League ahead of Chelsea's weekend visit, after also notching at Liverpool, but there is only one statistic that matters to his head coach.

"I don't care how many he scores. My question is how we can gain more than 40 points?" said Farke. "I don't worry about how many goals Teemu can score. He can score 70 goals but if we don't stay up it doesn't matter.

"If he stayed on four goals and we stayed up we are all happy and delighted.

"There will be some tough times as a striker so you have to enjoy these moments.

"That is the life of a striker when you can just watch the ball and it goes in the goal.

"My feeling was even in the (Newcastle) game he could have scored more goals, the same at Liverpool so he could be there with seven or eight.

"I want my players to be confident but when the team is playing well it is easier for the striker in this side. He knows if he makes the runs he will get the balls."

Pukki's headline-grabbing antics drew favourable comparisons with the Magpies' misfiring £40m-rated Brazilian rival Joelinton, who spurned a great chance to open the scoring at Carrow Road.

"I don't want to compare my players with others. I would like a Joelinton or a (Allan) Saint-Maximin. I am not jealous but as we have said we hope one day we can bring in this quality of player," said Farke. "Teemu had an outstanding performance and when I say performance I mean his all-round game, not just the goals.

"There was this scene in the first half when he ran back 80 yards and won the ball. Pretty often strikers are greedy to score goals and assists but a win of the ball is also important.

"That is important for the team because they know they can trust each other.

"Only one can wear the captain's armband but I want all the lads to take responsibility.

"He is a leader, he doesn't come across with lots of self-confidence but he shows it in his performance."