Watch the double edged hat-trick from young Celt
Soccer Football - Scottish Cup - Fourth Round - Celtic v Buckie Thistle - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - January 21, 2024 Celtic's Rocco Vata in action REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Rocco Vata scored a 30 minute hat-trick as Ireland’s u-21 side beat San Marino 7-0 in a European Championship qualifier.
Former Celt Armstrong Okoflex, now of FC Zurich also scored with Bosun Lawal strolling through the match in midfield.
Obviously San Marino aren’t the strongest of international sides but scoring a hat-trick in the heart of Italy is bound to have been picked up by some of the Serie A clubs that have been linked with Vata this season.
“Mama Mia, Rocco Vata”?
Enjoy Rocco’s hat-trick as much as the Italian commentators ?
A great night for our Under-21s ??#IRLU21 | #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/jBXojcxV8J
— Ireland Football ???? (@IrelandFootball) March 22, 2024
A month short of his 19th birthday, Vata is in an awkward situation as his three year Celtic contract expires in the summer.
During the first half of the season he wasn’t involved in the Celtic first team squad, a January transfer was anticipated but international call ups opened the door with the teenager coming off the bench to score against Buckie Thistle.
There has been three brief substitute appearances since then, Brendan Rodgers has spoken encouragingly of Vata but a big decision is looming at the end of the season.
Under Ange Postecoglou Vata made a few brief first team appearances on the wing but he has evolved more towards playing as a striker with two of the goals against San Marino showing the penalty box instincts that are almost impossible to coach into players.