Manchester United talent JJ Gabriel marked his UEFA Youth League debut with a hat-trick against Sabah aged just 15.
The Irish-qualified attacker is tipped as a future star and made his first appearance for the first team off the bench in last month’s friendly against Atletico Madrid.
Gabriel has yet to make Michael Carrick’s squad for a competitive match but the teenager, who turns 16 next month, continues to knock on the door.
He sparkled for the Under-19s in Thursday’s 5-0 win against Sabah in the Youth League in front of director of football Jason Wilcox, director of recruitment Christopher Vivell and first-team coach Travis Binnion.
Amir Ibragimov and Jacob Watson scored early goals in Leigh, where Gabriel added another in a dominant first half.
Gabriel scored two more late in the second half to claim the match ball against the Azerbaijani visitors, who did not manage a shot on a day that United mustered 44 attempts.
The teenager’s father, Joe O’Cearuill, was capped twice by Ireland during his career but Gabriel is currently in the England underage set-up at international level.