A FORMER TNS youngster marked his first start for Wales Under-21s with a standout display as he scored three of the team’s four goals in their UEFA U21 Euro 2023 qualifier against Bulgaria.
Jack Vale, who now plays for Blackburn Rovers, scored a perfect hat-trick to help Paul Bodin’s side to their first win of the campaign.
The Wrexham-born forward, who spent part of his youth career at TNS before his move to Rovers, was congratulated by the Welsh club’s chief operating officer Ian Williams on Twitter.
He posted: “Great to see former TNS FC academy player Jack Vale scoring a hat trick for Cymru this evening.”
Twenty-year-old Vale opened the scoring in the 27th minute, before Billy Sass-Davies’ header doubled the team’s advantage minutes before the break.
Vale found the net twice in the second half to complete his hat-trick and top off a standout performance.
The result puts Wales second in Group E after two matches, with one win and one draw on the board.
Currently, Switzerland U21s are in first place after two wins from two games, while Netherlands U21s are a point below Wales with a game in hand.
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