MARC Pugh continued his red-hot goalscoring streak with another double to maintain Burnley Youth Team's 100 per cent start to the season.
The 18-year-old Clarets winger turned emergency striker scored both goals in the weekend's 2-0 Alliance League victory over Stockport to make it an amazing 12 in seven games this season.
And head of youth development Vince Overson admits Pugh's stunning emergence as a goalscorer has surprised even the Turf Moor staff.
He said: "Marc actually started out as a striker at the Centre of Excellence and then he was put on the wing out of necessity at U16 level.
"Youth team coach Terry Pashley has put him in as a striker again this season and Marc has taken to the role again like a duck to water.
"I have to admit he's surprised us all, but only with the number he's scored. We knew he would give a good account of himself because all the youth team players are on weight programmes and he is a strong lad, but he also has pace and that will always hurt opponents.
"He's not the biggest player around, but you don't necessarily need to be a monster to score goals."
Collectively, Burnley's youth team have enjoyed a storming start to the season, winning all six Alliance League games and comfortably disposing of Rotherham United in the Alliance Cup to set up a second round tie at Boston.
And Overson paid tribute to Pashley for his role in ensuring Burnley's youth system is once again flourishing, with Kyle Lafferty and Chris McCann already forcing their way into the first team picture this season following the recent emergence of Richard Chaplow.
Overson said: "All credit to Terry, who I firmly believe is one of the best youth team coaches in the country at the moment. The results we are getting speak for themselves, although nobody is getting carried away because it's still early doors.
"The really important thing we are striving for is the constant development of individual players. All the lads have been first class so far this season technically and we feel we are stronger all round. If we can keep that momentum going, then we'll all be delighted."
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