West Brom prospect keen to make up for lost time after firing hat-trick in Blues win
Albion prospect Jack Bray is keen to continue making up for lost time having smashed in a 19-minute hat-trick in a dominant under-21s victory over Birmingham City.
Attacker Bray, who was recruited from lower league Harrogate Town last summer, continued his scoring return from injury as he came from the bench in the 4-0 rout over local rivals Blues in Albion's Solihull Moors home.
It was a fourth victory on the spin for the rejuvenated Baggies youngsters, who are currently being overseen by academy staff while under-21s boss Leigh Downing lends a hand to James Morrison at first-team level.
Downing's assistant Deon Burton took the Blues victory and previous success against Ipswich. He has been assisted by head of academy coaching Mick Halsall and under-18s boss Chay Thompson.
Bray, 19, went from substitute to star man having been introduced just prior to the hour with the scoreline at 1-0 to the hosts courtesy of Torin Ntege's deflected second-minute opener.
In-form Remar McNeil had an effort ruled out for offside after half-time but Bray, who replaced McNeil, took centre stage with three clinical finishes to make it four goals in three games since his return after foot surgery ruled him out for around four months.
Bray raced beyond a stranded Blues backline to hammer in an unerring low finish for 2-0 four minutes after his introduction. It was three eight minutes later as Bray swept into the bottom corner from inside the box.
His quickfire hat-trick was sealed 10 minutes from time as Bray was picked out by high-rated full-back Alfie Maughan for a simple tap in.
"I'm buzzing," Bray admitted. "I've obviously been injured for a while this season so I'm trying to get as many minutes as I can to make an impact, and I think I did that by scoring a hat-trick.
"I try my best to keep as fit as I can so when I do come back I'm fine and I'm glad I'm where I am.
"A goal is a goal, I like them all! The first is probably my favourite, a quickfire shot, I enjoyed it.
"We dominated in the second half, I can't remember them having a chance, so we deserved it. We're flying and we have a quarter-final to play on Monday, so we can take the confidence into that, it's a good vibe at the minute."
Bray impressed and fired a brace in October's eye-catching 4-2 victory against Italian giants Juventus in the PL International Cup.
The teen has not yet started in his three appearances since an injury return, but also notched a goal in the 3-0 victory at Ipswich seven days earlier, with top scorer Souleyman Mandey and Eseosa Sule, who returned from an injury-hit loan at Motherwell at the turn of the year, also on target.
Yorkshireman Bray was recruited by Albion's academy last summer after a starring role with two goals in an FA Youth Cup clash against the Baggies.
The Baggies are up to 23rd in the 29-team Premier League 2 having been bottom of the pile before their four-match winning run.
Albion under-21s are next in action in Monday's Birmingham Senior Cup quarter-final at non-league outfit Redditch United.
There is also a Premier League Cup quarter-final at the end of the month where Albion make the long trip to Bournemouth on March 27.
The Baggies came through a knockout success against QPR last month to reach the last eight having progressed through the group format before Christmas.
