England U21s 6 Norway U21s 1: Marcus Rashford scores incredible hat-trick under Sam Allardyce’s eyes

MARCUS RASHFORD scored a remarkable hat-trick for England Under-21s under the eyes of Sam Allardyce.

The Manchester United starlet's treble helped Gareth Southgate's side to a 5-1 romp over Norway in the European Championships qualifying round.

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Nathaniel Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lewis Baker added to the Three Lions' heroics with a goal each.

A late consolation from Ghayas Zahid could do little to buoy the visitors on the night and Rashford completed his magic with a well-taken penalty just minutes later.

GOALS, FACTS, STATS & LOLS

• Marcus Rashford just loves a first impression. He kept up his sequence of scoring on his first game for every new manager he has had since his two-goal blast into the big time against Midtjylland in February.Louis van Gaal, Roy Hodgson, Jose Mourinho and now Gareth Southgate have all benefitted from handing the youngster his chance. Big Sam. Malta at home next month. Any chance?
•  It seems to be a similar theme within the England teams that they struggle to get out the traps early.Despite the convincing 5-1 scoreline, Southgate’s Young Lions rode their luck early on as they were second best until Rashford scored against the run of play. Without his brilliance, you wonder how long it would have been until they had the confidence to really get at the visitors.
• Angus Gunn may have been sweating when he saw Joe Hart bombed out of Manchester City last month by Pep Guardiola but he did his own chances of proving himself worthy to the Spaniard no harm on Tuesday.
  

  

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  Not only was he always an option for his defence, but he pulled off three quality saves to keep the score goalless during the opening half hour.

• Ruben Loftus-Cheek may be struggling to break into Chelsea’s first-team but his lack of game time did not show against Norway.
  The No10 looked a pure thoroughbred as he dictated the England attacks from behind Rashford and capped off his performance with a goal by knocking the ball in off the post from the edge of the area.
  
• Big Sam only needed to see 73 minutes. The watching England manager left the ground moments after Rashford had sealed his hat-trick from the spot.
•  It was Nataniel Chalobah’s 88th appearance for England’s youth sides. And he celebrated by volleying home England’s second of the night on 37 minutes.
• James Ward-Prowse's set piece for Chalobah to volley home will have one down well with Big Sam. Ward-Prowse also provided the corner for Kortney Hause’s disallowed goal. We all know how much Big Sam values a set-piece.
  

  

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•  The much-maligned England band were in attendance at the Community Stadium… And they were equally as annoying as they are at Wembley. I’m sure they mean well, but at least give our ear drums a rest at home youth internationals if we can’t enjoy Wembley.
• Rashford’s treble was the first for the U21s since Harry Kane fired three past San Marino in a Euro Qualifier way back in 2013.
• Southgate’s squad seems to be blessed with wingers. Nathan Redmond was impressive down the right, but Leicester’s Demarai Gray was just as lively after his late arrival and gave a glimpse of the box of tricks he possesses.

STAT ATTACK

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WHAT THEY SAID

Marcus Rasford: "[Tonight] means a lot to me.

"England seniors are doing well at the moment and there's a new manager. The whole of the U21s are working hard to get into the setup and it's a relief he [Sam Allardyce] was here to see not just me but all the lads."

Gareth Southgate: "I've been impressed with his [Rashford's] mentality all week. He came with great humility. He's young so you'd hope he would but it's not always the case."

When asked whether he is expecting Big Sam to call the striker up to the seniors he said: "That will be for Sam to decide and it depends on the form of other players and what Marcus does between now and the next qualifier.

"He's clearly an exciting talent."