Craig Shakespeare was delighted for Cameron Archer after the Aston Villa youngster scored a hat-trick on his first senior start for the club.
The 19-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Solihull Moors, displayed great finishing ability to net a treble in the 6-0 thrashing of Barrow in the Carabao Cup.
It more than repaid the faith shown in him by Dean Smith and the coaching staff, with Shakespeare revealing how Archer worked his way into their plans.
He said: “We went on a pre-season training camp and he came down and did really well – caught everyone’s eye with his enthusiasm and goalscoring ability.
“We talked about the development of young players and he got the opportunity tonight, and boy did he take it.
“I’m so pleased for him, as I was with the team overall. For him to get his hat-trick, it’s great for him.”
As five-time League Cup winners, Villa have a rich in the competition.
And with memories of a run to the final in the 2019/20 season still fresh in the memory, Shakespeare hopes the team can put together another cup run.
He said: “You enter any competition to do well and to try and win it.
“The further down the line you go, the more opportunity you have of getting to the final. We have been in the final not so long ago, and the idea is to progress as far as we can.”