Young Mansfield Town striker Zayn Hakeem puts Antigua U20 one stage nearer to World Cup
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Hakeem hit the back of the net after just 30 seconds, before adding another on 11 minutes as Antigua defeated Bermuda 3-2.
Boss Adam Murray said it was a fantastic experience for his young prospect.
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Hide Ad“I am not surprised and I am over the moon for him. We knew what Zayn carries, but like any young lad, what will happen now is people will hear he’s score two goal for his country and now he’s got to come back and be the number nine every week for Mansfield Town,” he said.
“Zayn will be a good player for Mansfield Town, but we have got to get his progression right.
“It’s the same for the likes of Tom Marriott and it was the same for Jack Thomas, and I felt I dealt with Jack in the right manner and he’s become an established player.
“I will do the same with Zayn and I will do the same with Tom and the other young players we have coming through. When the time is right they will get regular game time like any other player.
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Hide Ad“But I am really chuffed for Zayn to go away and experience that environment and that different challenge. It will be brilliant for him.
“Likewise, even though he’s not one of our players, we’ve got Alex Iacovitti called up again for Scotland U21s for a second time since he’s been with us so we are chuffed to bits with the environment we are creating here.”
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