Leeds United man reverses popular narrative as youngster creates team news issue with quadruple effort

Italy's youngest ever goalscorer was dropped to the Under-21 side this month following a period out of the starting line-up at Elland Road but has made a strong case for a senior recall in March with his performances over two matches against San Marino and the Republic of Ireland in U21 European Championships qualifying.

The Leeds youngster scored four times across 163 minutes of football, averaging a goal roughly every 41 minutes for Gli Azzurrini. His influence was not limited to finding the back of the net, either. Italy won penalties in both games, each time courtesy of the 20-year-old forward.

Against San Marino, Gnonto was felled in the penalty area, in addition to his two goals in Serravalle, then on a bitterly cold evening in Cork, Gnonto's shot on the stroke of half-time ricocheted up onto the outstretched arm of an Irish player. Leeds' breakout star of 2022/23 despatched of the spot-kick himself, before levelling with a header in stoppage time at the end of the second half to salvage a 2-2 draw.

While his final goal of the international window did take a hefty deflection, it does not detract from the two Man of the Match displays for Italy's youngsters.