Unai Emery must have one eye on Mason Cotcher after he scored a hat-trick for Aston Villa under-18s against Bristol City on Tuesday.
The Young Lions advanced to the quarter-finals of this year’s FA Youth Cup after coming from behind on February 4.
The Robins took the lead after 18 minutes and doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half.
It’s easy to say the Villans had the better of the play in the second half, making a remarkable comeback at Bodymoor Heath, with Cotcher playing a significant part that drew attention.
Mason Cotcher shines for Aston Villa v Bristol City
It’s not often that a team comes back from two goals down to win, but James Shan’s young players achieved just that.
It has to be noted that the Villans owe a lot to their number nine, who demonstrated several aspects of his game that will excite Emery and Co. in B6.
His first strike of the evening demonstrated his ability to receive the ball and then take a shot quickly.
The ball was fed into his path, and the England Under-17 international let it travel across his body before unleashing a stunning low shot into the far corner.
If his first effort demonstrated his ability to finish with one touch, Cotcher’s second effort demonstrated his close control and ability to beat a man in close quarters.
The former Manchester United youth standout jinked onto his left foot and blasted past onrushing players and the keeper to score twice on the night.
His hat-trick-clinching goal was arguably the easiest, but given the pressure of the moment, he demonstrated his composure in front of goal yet again.
The forward ghosted in at the back post to complete a superb cross, securing a comeback and demonstrating his potential as a secret weapon at Villa Park for years to come.
With a quarter-final match coming up, it will be intriguing to see if Cotcher can keep this level up for the Under-18s and possibly the Under-21s in the future.
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