Manchester City believe they're now seeing the real Mary Fowler, with the Matildas star feted for helping orchestrate the 5-0 thrashing of Bristol City that's thrust the Sky Blues to the top of England's Women's Super League (WSL).

Fowler was just an afterthought among City's star-studded squad in her debut season but the 20-year-old demonstrated again on Sunday that she's now ready to take centre stage for the ambitious WSL contenders following her World Cup heroics.

She produced two pinpoint assists as City ran rampant in the first half, scoring all five of their goals before the break.

And her performance had manager Gareth Taylor, who only picked her off the bench in 11 league games last season, drooling after Fowler saw out the full 90 minutes.

"I mentioned last season that this season will be important for Mary to feel her way into the club — and now we're starting to see the player that we all thought we'd see," he said.

"Her confidence is high and I'm picking her every game now.

"Mary's just a really talented player. She's very good at one on one situations, her ability to go outside, inside, both feet makes her a dream to work with. And she's very coachable, really willing to learn."

With a terrific cross, she laid on the first goal for new Dutch signing Jill Roord — who ended up scoring twice — and helped make it five just before the break by setting up the prolific Jamaican Khadija Shaw to complete her own double.

With Laia Aleixandri scoring City's other goal with a glancing header, the only thing Fowler failed to do was hit the net — but Taylor was adamant the goals would come for the Cairns-born youngster.

"She's got goals in her, that's got to be the main thing we're really looking to Mary for," he said.

"With the likes of Bunny (Shaw) and Jill Roord, it looks like it could be a healthy competition for top scorer — and Mary's capable of being up there as well."