Manchester United U23 coach Neil Wood is delighted with the progress of Shola Shoretire this season.
The Newcastle-born forward celebrated turning 17 in style last week, signing his first professional contract with United and then scoring a hat-trick for the under-23s against Blackburn.
“As the season has gone on you have seen his talent," said Wood, whose side take on Arsenal on Friday.
“His work rate off the ball is excellent. I think he's very mature for his age, he's not one spot of bother.
“He plays for the team, he knows the role he's got to do to improve himself and he works his socks off every day.
“Anything I ask him to do he's no problem and he will do it so, yeah, I do think he's very mature beyond his years and I think that's helped him to settle in to playing 23s football and he's always played with older players anyway.
“He's always been stretched in a way, he's never had it in his own age and been the main guy and the standout, which he easily could have been in the academy if he played his own age group.
“He's used to it and it's probably helped him along the way and he's taken it to another level. Hopefully he can continue and keep working and let's see if he can show what he can do with his football."
