After a difficult start to life at Leicester City, it was a night to remember for Ireland U21 international Tom Cannon on Monday.
Cannon joined Leicester on a five-year deal from Everton in September but suffered an injury shortly after which left him sidelined until early last month.
The faith Leicester had in the youngster was clear, however, with manager Enzo Maresca saying at the time of Cannon's injury lay-off that the club had been aware of the stress fracture in his back, and that they had signed him as a "long-term investment."
If Cannon can replicate the form he showed on his first start against Huddersfield on Monday night, Maresca's faith will be repaid.
The recently-turned-21-year-old striker scored two excellent goals to help push the Foxes to a resounding 4-1 win at the King Power Stadium, and both goals evidently meant a lot to the young forward.
After the game, Cannon and Maresca both spoke to Leicester City's social media team, and summed up how much the brace had meant.
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Tom Cannon hits double in 4-1 Leicester win
Tom Cannon was ecstatic after finally getting off the mark for Leicester City, over four months after arriving at the King Power Stadium.
With veteran Jamie Vardy already vying with Kelechi Iheanacho for a forward spot in the starting XI, Cannon understands it will be difficult to break into the team - but knows that all he can control is his own level of performance:
I'm delighted. First and foremost, to get the three points is the aim going into every game. To do that, the lads are delighted.
The competition for places here is high. They're all good, very high quality players. I've just got to keep my head down and take the chances when they come. I'm absolutely delighted.
Fingers crossed [he can get more regular starts]. It's the manager's decision at the end of the day but all I can do is keep going into training and showing him what I'm made of. I'll continue to do that.
It will be encouraging for Tom Cannon that his manager Enzo Maresca spoke highly of the Irish underage international in his own post-match interview.
Maresca said that Cannon "deserved" his chance after coming back from such a lengthy lay-off, and was excited to see the improvements yet to come:
Yeah, I'm happy, he deserves it completely. He deserves it.
He joined the club, then was injured for two or three months, it was not an easy moment for him. I'm very happy tonight for him.
He's still very young, he can improve many things. We as a team can improve many things. As I said, I'm happy for Tom, because he deserves it.
Though Cannon's form will be exciting to fans hoping to see him turn out for Ireland in 2024, his international future remains up in the air.
Last June, then-Ireland manager Stephen Kenny said that Cannon needed time to "reflect" after an approach from the England U21s.
Cannon was born in Aintree and is thus eligible to line out for England - though the approach from the Three Lions did not go down well with Ireland U21 manager Jim Crawford.
The Leicester striker is yet to earn a senior cap for Ireland, but remains in contention for a place in the U21s team as their EURO 2025 qualification campaign continues this year.
Irish fans will hope not only to see Tom Cannon declare for the Boys in Green, but to also see him continue to bang in the goals for Leicester City.
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