Eddie Nketieh isn’t the only young striker who became all-time record goalscorer for his country’s U21 side this week.
While Arsenal’s latest ‘fox in the box’ might be hogging the limelight – the record he now calls his own did belong, until yesterday, to Alan Shearer after all – Fraser Hornby’s own achievements shouldn’t go unnoticed.
A hat-trick in Tuesday’s 7-0 shellacking of San Marino means the Northampton-born forward now has ten goals in 16 games for Scotland at U21 level.
With a pair of poacher’s finishes and a well-taken penalty, Hornby isn’t the sort of striker likely to challenge for goal of the season gongs. But ask any fan and they’ll tell you quantity of goals is more important than quality.
Or any manager, for that matter.
“A special mention must also go to Fraser Hornby, who goes down in the history books as the leading goalscorer for the 21s,” Scotland reserve coach Malky Mackay tells the SFA Website.
“He’s got huge potential and hopefully there are many more goals to come in a Scotland shirt for him.”
Hornby is unlikely to realise that “huge potential” at Goodison Park any time soon, however.
Everton sold one of their most exciting youngsters in June, accepting a £1.8 million bid from Ligue 1 outfit Reims.
But while the sudden emergence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Europe’s hottest hitman offered a reminder of the fact patience is a virtue, did Everton act a little hasty in letting Hornby off the rails?
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