Nice boss Favre on red-hot Balotelli: 'I didn't expect it'

Four goals in two matches for Mario Balotelli - who would have thunk it?

Certainly not Nice manager Lucien Favre, who conceded after Wednesday's 4-0 drubbing of south coast rival Monaco that he did not anticipate such a return for the Italian summer signing.

"I didn't expect it," Favre said after Balotelli scored his second brace in just his second appearance for the club.

Related - Watch: Balotelli bags 2nd brace of young Nice career

"With Mario, we know there is still a lot of work to be done on his movement to play with the team. He was good in getting deep," Favre added. "His first goal was a hard one to score. The angle was difficult, the goalkeeper is good."

"He has to keep going like that, and (when) he becomes aware (of) that he'll get back to his very best if he's professional from head to toe."

Favre and Co. handed the 26-year-old striker a lifeline most clubs wouldn't, and, luckily for the Cote d'Azur outfit, it's paying dividends.

An outcast at Liverpool, Balotelli was loaned back to AC Milan last year. The 33-time capped Azzurri scored just once in 20 appearances for the Rossoneri, prompting his return to Merseyside, where he and fellow angular point man Christian Benteke languished on the fringes of Jurgen Klopp's first team.

Mired by immature displays off the pitch and enigmatic showings on it, Balotelli is running out of chances. From the looks of it, the Palermo-born goal machine is cognizant of that, and Favre appears the type willing to give him that chance.

"After some difficult years for him, recovery will be key in him getting back to the top. Little by little, we're going to try to help him get stronger."