Proudly clutching the match ball after netting a hat-trick in Leeds United Under-21s’ impressive 4-1 victory over Sky Bet League One side Barnsley was Callum Mills, grinning as he spoke to the media after the full-time whistle.

The 18-year-old’s three goals, along with a first-half Josh McDonald header put Scott Gardner’s side into a commanding lead before the hosts’ attempts of a comeback proved too little too late towards the end.

“A great feeling,” the versatile youngster explained. “Three goals and getting my name out there, especially in a competition like this, it is good.

“I hadn’t scored this season so it is a good way to start it off and hopefully keep going. I should have had that one [earlier] but I made up for it with three!

“The first one took a little deflection off the defender but they all count, don’t they? We do a lot of work in training, building out, and today it was showing on the pitch.

“We are good on the outside, getting balls in the box and Harvey [Vincent’s] quality was showing. Then my tap in – in the right place at the right time! It was a good feeling to get the three goals.

“It was a lot more physical, the game, compared to what we are used to in the U21s but it is good to play these games so you are used to proper men’s football. We just need to keep going and not get complacent against teams.”