Venezuelan international striker Salomon Rondon has warned that his weekend hat-trick heroics were only the start for his new Russian club Zenit St Petersburg.

Rondon's three goals helped Zenit to a 6-2 win at home against his former club Rubin Kazan.

"Of course to score three goals in one game is a very pleasant and memorable event," said the 24-year-old, who joined Zenit in the winter break.

Rondon also scored on his debut for his new club in the Champions League last 16 against Borussia Dormund in February, but the German side advanced on aggregate.

"I'm even more pleased with the fact that my hat-trick has helped Zenit to grab all three points. We're battling for the title and every single point may become the deciding one in this race.

"Of course I feel a little sad that I scored three goals againt my former team but that's football. Now I'm a Zenit footballer and I tried hard to show my best in the minutes which I was given to play."

Rondon scored his first goal just two minutes after coming on as a 66th minute substitute.

Zenit are now just one point behind Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian league table.

"Our new manager (Andre Villas-Boas) told me that my objective on the pitch was to spearhead the Zenit attack, while my teammates backed me up," he explained.

"I'm grateful to all of them but I understand that I was purchased by Zenit exactly for that and I hope to continue to score for my club."

Rondon added that he has taken the ball with which he has completed the hat-trick to send it to his family in Venezuela.

"I'm very happy that people in Venezuela, who keep up with my career here, will receive a word about my success. I'd like to share my joy with all of them."

The first Venezuelan to play in Russia, Rondon joined Rubin from Spanish club Malaga in August 2012.

He has scored 12 goals in his 35 appearances for Venezuela.