Pick me! Socceroos star Mohamed Toure scores a hat-trick for Norwich with World Cup looming in June
Socceroos striker Mohamed Toure has continued his dream start at English Championship side Norwich, scoring a hat-trick in the side’s 3-0 win over Oxford.
The 21-year-old moved to the Canaries on a $6million deal from Danish top-flight club Randers and he’s been quick to prove his worth, coming off the bench to score in a 2-0 win over Blackburn last weekend.
Starting at The Kassam Stadium on Tuesday evening local time, Toure opened the scoring with his first touch after just 51 seconds, before hitting the back of the net again in the 19th and 47th minutes.
The win helped Norwich move up to 16th on the Championship table, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Toure, a Liberian refugee from Guinea, became the first player since Jesse Lingard for Birmingham City in 2013 to score a hat-trick on his starting debut in any of England’s top four tiers.
Norwich manager Philippe Clement said Toure was ‘learning fast’ and has a bright future.
Socceroos star Mohamed Toure has continued his dream start at Norwich, scoring a hat-trick in the side’s 3-0 win over Oxford
‘It was what we wanted to see from Mohamed, but also from everyone around him,’ Clement said.
‘We’ve seen the last two months that everyone who plays as a striker gets much better opportunities than three months ago.
‘The strikers can be in good positions to finish off the job, and that’s what he did really well.’
Toure has become an instant cult hero at Norwich with fans loving his prowess in front of goal.
‘He was exceptional. Goals aside, his hold up play and bringing other players into it was top shelf. Unbelievable performance,’ one fan said on Instagram.
‘What an exciting young player to watch,’ another said.
‘Bring on the World Cup,’ a third wrote.
Toure began his career at Adelaide United, making his debut as the third youngest debutant and youngest goalscorer in A-League history at the age of 15.
Toure has scored four goals for Norwich in just two games in the Championship
Toure was embraced by his teammates and Norwich fans after his dream start for the Canaries
The young forward will be selected in Socceroos coach Tony Popovic’s squad for the World Cup in June.
His family spent 14 years in a Guinean refugee camp before moving to Australia in 2004 after Toure’s father met an aid worker who encouraged him to consider moving Down Under.
He’s already scored two goals from eight internationals and his immediate focus will be ensuring his new club stays in the Championship.
‘Mo is still a young lad with a lot of potential and several things to improve, but he is learning fast,’ Clement said.
‘This week we showed him several images of [Erling] Haaland and how he creates space for himself, as well as [Romelu] Lukaku and how he uses his body.
‘It’s important to have a striker who can find the spaces in behind and is lethal in front of goal.’
Growing up with older brother Al Hassan – now at Sydney FC – and younger brother Musa, Toure developed his love for the game in the backyard and with local club Croydon Kings.
He then progressed to the South Australian NTC program before joining the Reds at A-League level.
