James Wilson marked his senior Manchester United debut with a dream brace as Ryan Giggs' side ran out 3-1 winners against Hull City on Tuesday night.
The England U19s international - who has now scored at U18s, U19s, U21s and senior level this term for his club - was handed a surprise start by United's interim player-manager as the Reds welcomed The FA Cup Finalists to Old Trafford for their final home game of the season.
And it did not take the youngster long to get involved in the action as he scored the game's opening goal on 31 minutes, confidently firing a first-time shot through the legs of Eldin Jakupovic after a neat knock-down from Marouane Fellaini.
In doing so - at 18 years and five months - Wilson become the fourth youngest player to score a Premier League goal for Manchester United - but he was not finished there.
Outgoing club captain Nemanja Vidic congratulates Wilson
As the hosts held their one-goal lead into the break, with just over a quarter of an hour gone in the second half Wilson struck again.
Fellaini was again involved as the Belgian's shot was well saved by Jakupovic, but showing true striker's instinct the youngster was at hand to pounce and fire home the rebound to double his tally and give United a two-goal cushion.
Matty Fryatt and Robin van Persie added their names to the score sheet as the game fizzled out, but there was no question who the night belonged to.
Speaking to the club's in-house television channel after the game, van Persie praised the emergence of young Wilson on to the first-team scene.
“James played really well,” enthused van Persie. “I know how hard it is to make your debut - I made mine when I was about 29!
"I know how special it can be.
Fact file
- Born: 1 December 1995
- Place: Biddulph, Staffordshire
- Signed professional forms: July 2012
- International caps: U16s, U19s
"He made it very special for himself and for everyone tonight. To score two goals is really special.”
Meanwhile, the man who gave him the opportunity, Ryan Giggs - himself a former teenage Stretford End hero - added his own words of admiration for Wilson's performance - but insisted he knew what he was capable of.
"James didn’t surprise me," he said.
"I wanted to play Marouane Fellaini up with him to add a bit of presence and take the pressure off him a little bit. It worked well, they linked up for the first goal and it was great to see James score the two goals."
However, there was a bit of bad news for England Manager Roy Hodgson, who plans to announce his World Cup squad next Monday
United defender Phil Jones was taken off 16 minutes into the first-half and headed to hospital with a shoulder injury after a clash with Hull's Maynor Figueroa.
"He has gone to hospital. We'll just have to assess it, but it didn't look great," Giggs said. "Straight away he knew he had done something.
"He wanted to come straight off. Usually, as a player, you know it's something bad when you do that.
"Hopefully it's not too bad."
