Remember the Jack Byrne hype train? It may have just jolted back to life.
Republic of Ireland youngster Jack Byrne was one of the most talked-up Irish prospects since that lad who plays for Aston Villa with the iced-gem biscuit haircut. He has represented the Boys In Green at every level from u-16s upwards but has yet to have his first senior international cap.
A year-and-a-half ago, he was training with the Ireland squad while Manchester City's books having turned a lot of heads in an Eredivisie loan spell the previous season. It was all set up for him to make that final leap and break into the senior Ireland team, then it started falling apart at the seams.
After failing to impress in the Championship, Blackburn Rovers cut his season-long loan short and he returned to City just to be shipped off to Wigan Athletic, who were subsequently relegated. With regular first-team football looking unlikely at Wigan, he was handed a lifeline for a resurgence by going on loan to Oldham Athletic.
It appears as though the 21-year-old os rediscovering himself at his new home. During their game on Saturday, he bagged one of the best goals scored by an Irishman this season, with a curled effort into the top corner just four minutes into the game.
https://twitter.com/pbfl81/status/939511850298957824
Byrne wasn't done just yet though. There was the rest of the half to play, which he completely bossed.
20 minutes later, he was involved in the second goal. His corner found the head of Tope Obadeyi at the front post, who made no mistake with the finish to double the lead.
Then in injury time of the first half, he was on the scoresheet again.
https://twitter.com/pbfl81/status/939522641203023872
Not quite as beautiful as his opener, but a goal is a goal. Two goals and an assist in one half of football is a fairly sensational return at any level.
