Fleetwood Town's hard-working hat-trick hero Harvey Saunders hailed by coach Barry Nicholson

That failed to take any shine off Saunders' feat, however, and the 23-year-old frontman now has six goals in all competitions this term.

Saunders fully deserved to grab the headlines as Town made it two wins from two in the competition, seeing off Villa's young guns 3-0.

He could find himself now pressurising first-team regulars Ched Evans and Paddy Madden as the preparations now get under way for Friday's televised home League One clash against high-flying Hull City.

"That was brilliant for Harvey," said Nicholson. "He works his socks off every day, that's his character.

"He wants to learn and he wants to listen, and he's knuckled down recently and is working hard on parts of his game that he's maybe not so good at.

"He's worked hard on the finishing side of his game, and I think that was a perfect hat-trick for him - a right, a left and a header.

"You can't ask for any more than that and he deservedly went away with the match ball. I'm sure he'll be pleased with his contribution.

"He gives us a different kind of option. Harvey has got pure speed and he likes to run in behind.

"Ched and Paddy are obviously different players to him but I'm sure he picked up little bits off both of them.

"If he can add bits of those two's games to his own, then he'll do well in the future."