Jack Vale scored a perfect hat-trick on just his second outing for Wales Under-21s to help them a 4-0 win over Bulgaria.

It was the first hat-trick at that level by a Welshman since 2007, much to the delight of manager Paul Bodin who watched his side pick up their first European qualifying victory.

Vale, aged 20, had only won one cap prior to Wednesday night’s game, and after putting Wales 1-0 up in the first half with a left foot finish, he added two more after the break, the second with his right foot before completing his hat-trick with a header.

And Bodin said: “Jack Vale was incredible with the perfect hat trick, left foot, right foot and a header, and his performance.

“The boys fully deserved the win. We had a little bit of luck at the start but from that point on I thought we dominated the game. I've had a great squad involved in this camp and it's been capped with a fantastic win and four wonderful goals.”

Vale finished last season with Rochdale after a deadline day move but struggled for involvement, making just three appearances, and a decision over the next phase of his development will be crucial.

The attacker made his first-team debut in July 2020 but failed to build on that because of injury that saw him miss the whole of pre-season that summer.

He netted in the Premier League 2 opener with Everton and then handed a start for Wales Under-21s on Wednesday, rewarding manager Bodin with a hat-trick in a 4-0 win.

Vale will now return to Rovers with the hope of breaking into the first-team set-up, with his international involvements likely to keep him out of the Under-23s trip to Brighton on Friday night.