The A-League leaders opened up an 11-point lead at the top of the table with a 4-1 win over Adelaide United at AAMI Park, with Maclaren scoring a brace to become City's all-time leading goalscorer.

Maclaren's second goal, his 25th of the season, was his 58th for City and allowed him to overtake Bruno Fornaroli.

"What Jamie's improved on and what I've seen over the years is his work ethic and his positioning to get into the box - where maybe last year it was a bit different," coach Patrick Kisnorbo said.

"Even though he scored a lot of goals but for me it's the goals and where he's scoring, is the difference and how he's scoring.

"You don't see him really score from the 18-yard box (where) you see a great shot. It's the work ethic to get in the positions that he needs to get to."

The victory was soured after just 25 minutes when Nabbout succumbed to a suspected adductor injury when attempting a pass.

Nabbout, who missed five games at the start of the season with a hamstring injury and last week's win over Perth with a groin issue, had to be assisted from the field and down the tunnel in distress.

He will have scans on Friday.

If severe, Nabbout's injury would be a massive blow to City and potentially his hopes of featuring at June's World Cup qualifiers in Kuwait.

Adelaide goalkeeper Joe Gauci injured his quad in the warm-up and was replaced by James Delianov who saw City score after just eight minutes.

Florin Berenguer played a quick corner to Scott Jamieson outside the box and in his 100th game for City, the captain scored with a deflected left-footed strike.

City doubled their lead through a clever short-corner routine in the 45th minute, with Noone delivering a perfectly weighted ball for Scott Galloway to rip a skidding left-footed strike.

Adelaide hit back six minutes later.

Aiden O'Neill's botched clearance forced a good save from Tom Glover, only for Ben Halloran to bury the rebound.

In the 71st minute, City substitute Stefan Colakovski earned a penalty with Golden Boot leader Maclaren coolly converting from the spot.

City wrapped up three points in the 82nd minute when Marco Tilio squared the ball for Maclaren to drill home his second.

"We were playing the game on our terms and just small details cost us," Adelaide coach Carl Veart said.

"We missed a pass or missed a shot or missed a cross that we could have taken more advantage of.

"And the quality in their side, they took advantage of their opportunities."

Australian Associated Press