DAMIEN Johnson is looking for Joe Nuttall to build on his impressive start to life in a Rovers shirt after netting a hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Wolves on Monday.

The Under-23s got off to the perfect start in Premier League 2 Division Two, with Nuttall scoring three in the opener at Ewood Park.

Nuttall had scored five times in three games for the Under-23s in pre-season, while on trial, before earning a one year permanent deal, with the option of a further 12 months.

And he has started the new season in fine form, with Johnson keen to see the former Manchester City youngster continue in that vain.

“He’s come in with a real hunger,” Johnson said of the 20-year-old.

“He came in on trial and has a hunger to prove himself.

“He lost his way a little bit, we just gave him an opportunity and he was outstanding in terms of how he went about it and his attitude.

“Joe needs to keep that up because he has a lot of good attributes in terms of his pace, he’s a strong lad and he can finish.

“Those are definitely good attributes to have as a striker and it’s important he keeps working hard and keeps his focus.

“That’s what he’s had since he came in and he can’t lose that.”

Nuttall, who also turned out for the first-team in pre-season, spent his early years with Manchester City.

However, he left the Premier League club in 2015 and signed for Aberdeen on a two-year.

Things didn’t quite work out north of the border, spending time on loan with Stranraer and Dumbarton, but failed to find the target in any of his 13 senior games.

But keen to find a new club, Nuttall arrived at Ewood Park in July, and netted a hat-trick on his debut outing for the Under-23s in a pre-season win at AFC Darwen.

And Johnson has been delighted with Nuttall’s early impact in East Lancashire.

He added: “We know what happens, when you are at a big club like that and find it difficult sometimes kids lose their way and can fall out of the game.

“Joe now has the bit between his teeth, his attitude and workrate has been great and he has a desire to improve.

“It’s a start for him, he has to continue.”