{"id":622726,"date":"2026-04-22T03:26:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T03:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/622726\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T03:26:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T03:26:09","slug":"mohamed-toure-scores-second-hat-trick-for-norwich-lucas-herrington-takes-on-lionel-messi-nestory-irankunda-called-a-premier-league-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/622726\/","title":{"rendered":"Mohamed Toure scores second hat-trick for Norwich, Lucas Herrington takes on Lionel Messi, Nestory Irankunda called a Premier League talent"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mohamed Tour\u00e9\u2019s red hot form has shown no signs of slowing down with a thunderous goal on Wednesday morning as well as on the weekend scoring his second hat-trick since joining Norwich in January. <\/p>\n

Several other Socceroos enjoyed strong outings around the world across the weekend with Tour\u00e9 not the only Australian to find the back of the net as a fellow breakout star had the experience of a lifetime in the United States.<\/p>\n

\ufeffGet all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Two Australians were also in the headlines in Major League Soccer for a feisty post-game clash with a former Premier League star.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a linchpin of Tony Popovic\u2019s World Cup plans delivered a superb showing in Italy.<\/p>\n

Scroll down for the latest updates on how Socceroos players are faring overseas in Roo Radar!<\/p>\n

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against Lucas Herrington #22 of Colorado Rapids.Source: AFP<\/p>\n

UNITED STATES<\/p>\n

Despite Tour\u00e9’s heroics, we will start in the MLS with Lucas Herrington taking on Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n

The 18-year-old\u2019s whirlwind year reached another level as he defended the Argentine legend in front of the second biggest ever crowd for a single MLS game as 75,824 fans packed into Empower Field at Mile High – the home of the NFL\u2019s Denver Broncos.<\/p>\n

Herrington became the youngest player to debut for the Socceroos in more than 40 years when he started against Cameroon last month.<\/p>\n

The call-up from national team boss Tony Popovic came after an assured start to life in America with the Colorado Rapids after leaving the Brisbane Roar.<\/p>\n

He slotted in seamlessly to the international arena with a man of the match display in Australia\u2019s 1-0 win in Sydney.<\/p>\n

The appetite Herrington displayed for the biggest stage was shown against the David Beckham-owned Inter Miami too.<\/p>\n

The teenager played a beautiful ball over the top of Miami\u2019s defence to assist Colorado\u2019s equaliser shortly after the hour mark.<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/p>\n

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Unfortunately, Herrington also played a role in Messi\u2019s 79th minute winner.<\/p>\n

The 38-year-old eight-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner cut back onto his left boot in trademark fashion and fired a shot past the young Australian into the top corner. <\/p>\n

That goal secure a 3-2 victory for Inter Miami and a brace for Messi.<\/p>\n

Former Arsenal player, and Herrington\u2019s partner in central defence, Rob Holding shared words of encouragement for the youngster post-game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said to Lucas, this 18-year-old lad playing against him: he\u2019s done that to (Sergio) Ramos, (Virgil) Van Djk, like all these great defenders. That\u2019s what he does. That\u2019s who he is. So don\u2019t beat yourself up about it,\u201d Holding said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve played against Messi now and learned from that. So, yeah, we\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lucas Herrington #22 of Colorado Rapids controls the ball.Source: AFP<\/p>\n

The big tests will keep coming for Herrington in Colorado\u2019s next two outings.<\/p>\n

He will need to mark Tottenham great Son Heung-min against Los Angeles FC before tackling World Cup golden boot winner Thomas Muller and his Vancouver Whitecaps.<\/p>\n

The chance to compete against such greats of the game has justified Herrington\u2019s decision to go to America, in his mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether it was going to Europe I probably wasn\u2019t going to play men\u2019s football,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it was important for me to come here, keep playing, keep developing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought this was the best place I could, clearly it was the best decision, I am glad I made it, and I am loving every minute so far.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to keep doing me, keep working for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lucas Herrington chases the ball during the FIFA Series match between Australia and Cameroon.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, at New York\u2019s Citi Field – home of baseball\u2019s New York Mets – Socceroos duo Kai Trewin and Aiden O\u2019Neill clashed with former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha.<\/p>\n

It is unclear what the exchange was about but Zaha followed the Australians towards the tunnel, speaking towards Trewin the entire time.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old defender had his arm against Zaha\u2019s chest at one point and pushed him away.<\/p>\n

Charlotte won the match 2-1 with Trewin playing 87 minutes, while O\u2019Neill played the full match in defensive midfield.<\/p>\n

Patrick Yazbek, who also featured in Popovic\u2019s most recent Socceroos squad, came off the bench in the 67th minute of Nashville\u2019s 2-0 victory against Atlanta United FC.<\/p>\n

The win put Nashville four points clear on top of the MLS Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

ENGLAND<\/p>\n

Mohamed Tour\u00e9’s 24-minute second half hat-trick in his first start since coming back from a calf injury led the way for the Australian contingent in the English Championship on the weekend.<\/p>\n

He followed that up by scoring an absolute rocket for the opener in Norwich City\u2019s 2-1 win at home to Derby County on Wednesday morning Australian time.<\/p>\n

The only disappointment for Tour\u00e9 was that he could have had a brace, but his penalty earlier in the match was saved.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith Toure, he missed the penalty, but he has the right mindset to look for the next action and we\u2019ve been working hard on that since the beginning of our story together,\u201d Norwich manager Philippe Clement said post-game.<\/p>\n

9 in 10! Mo Toure scores a WORLDIE again | 01:08<\/p>\n

On the weekend in a 4-2 win at Bristol City, Tour\u00e9 pounced on a rebound for his first goal after his header was saved.<\/p>\n

He made it a double by streaming forward to get on the end of a low cross and drill the ball into the back of an empty net.<\/p>\n

The 22-year-old was then a touch fortunate, with a teammate\u2019s shot from outside the box crashing into him and deflecting into the goal to give him his third.<\/p>\n

Tour\u00e9’s start to life in England has been simply sublime.<\/p>\n

He has scored eight goals and provided three assists in nine league appearances, having only started in five of them.<\/p>\n

Mohamed Toure is congratulated on his equaliser by Pelle Mattsson.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Adelaide United product also scored a goal in the FA Cup, but he is simply relieved to pick up where he left off after a calf issue sidelined him for the last international window as well as six games for the Canaries.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was also frustrating and scary. I didn\u2019t know how I would come back with my form, or if it would take a little bit longer to catch form. But I\u2019m just happy to be back doing what I love,\u201d Tour\u00e9 said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m learning. I\u2019ve picked up a lot of injuries in my career, especially early on in my career. <\/p>\n

\u201cI know I\u2019m sounding like I\u2019ve played the game for 10 years, but I started very young, I was 15 when I played, and I\u2019ve picked up a lot of injuries, and every day I\u2019m learning my body and learning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s (speed and power) one of the reasons I need to learn how to maintain my body better. They\u2019re monitoring me very, very well here, and they\u2019re taking good care of me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know how long I was going to play. Just how much the body could take, and I was happy to get all of it, 60-70 minutes. Still not 100 per cent, but every week I\u2019m trying to get better. \u201d<\/p>\n

Mohamed Toure of Norwich City celebrates scoring the third goal for his team.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Toure is the red hot favourite to lead the line for the Socceroos at this year\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

At this stage it appears fitness could be the only thing standing in his way.<\/p>\n

But the lightning-fast striker is still pinching himself a little bit at how rapidly his star has risen since leaving Danish club Randers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing, I swear. But the most important thing is I can see I\u2019m growing as a footballer thanks to the coaching staff, and I could say that\u2019s the goal. I want to improve week in, week out and become the best version of myself,\u201d Tour\u00e9 said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, goals are very, very important,\u201d he added. \u201cBut I\u2019m still young, and I don\u2019t really beat myself up for not scoring. It\u2019s more about watching the games back and seeing if I was in the right positions and if I\u2019m creating chances. And then, like they always say, the goals will come.<\/p>\n

\u201cI speak to a lot of experienced strikers, and they tell me the same thing: just focus on the basics, and the goals will come later on. I\u2019m just trying to build my foundation very strongly, and then the goals will come, hopefully.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nestory Irankunda of Watford in action.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Also, in the Championship, Toure\u2019s likely attacking partner Nestory Irankunda played a full game for Watford in the 2-0 loss to Sheffield United.<\/p>\n

It was a third defeat in five winless outings for Watford with Irankunda scoring their most recent goal – three games ago against Charlton Athletic.<\/p>\n

The 20-year-old received mighty praise from Charlton boss Nathan Jones after that goal – where he whipped out his Michael Jackson celebration he debuted in the Socceroos\u2019 World Cup farewell 5-1 win against Curacao.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has blistering pace, two touches and bang (scores a goal). The Premier League has that (type of clinical finishing),\u201d Jones said of Irankunda.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is a Premier League athlete. Some of these are Premier League technicians playing in the Championship.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Hornets also announced the nominations for their top tens goals of the season with Irankunda belonging to four of them – every goal he has scored for the club.<\/p>\n

In the fight for promotion, Riley McGree missed fifth-placed Middlesborugh\u2019s 2-2 draw with second-placed Ipswich Town after a copping a knock in training on match eve.<\/p>\n

But Sammy Silvera, who missed the last Socceroos squad, came off the bench in the 83rd minute.<\/p>\n

Cameron Burgess played the full 90 minutes in Swansea\u2019s 2-1 loss to Southampton.<\/p>\n

While Harry Souttar featuring in Leicester City\u2019s match day squad after more than a year on the sidelines is just about the only positive to come from the Foxes.<\/p>\n

With three games remaining, the fairytale club who won the Premier League a decade ago<\/a> are eight points from safety.<\/p>\n

Cardiff City will not be facing Leicester in League One as Alex Robertson\u2019s team secured automatic promotion with 3-1 victory against Reading taking them 11 points clear of third place.<\/p>\n

EUROPE<\/p>\n

After being called up to his first Socceroos squad in two years, Awer Mabil has carried the momentum back with him to Spain.<\/p>\n

The 30-year-old winger assisted a goal to take the lead before sealing a 3-1 victory with a goal of his own for CD Castellon against Burgos.<\/p>\n

As a result, Mabil\u2019s team moved to second on the LaLiga2 table and edged closer towards gaining promotion to the Spanish top flight.<\/p>\n

In Italy, Alessando Circati produced a star showing in Parma\u2019s 1-0 Serie A victory away at Udinese.<\/p>\n

The centre back boasted the impressive stat sheet of 90 per cent passing accuracy, five clearances, two tackles, 100 per cent of his four duels won and zero times dribbled past.<\/p>\n

Unesta Elphege of Parma celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Alessandro Circati.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

In Germany, Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe continue to fight for survival in the Bundesliga with St Pauli.<\/p>\n

Irvine played the full match in midfield, while Metcalfe came off the bench in the 78th minute as they drew 1-1 with FC Koln.<\/p>\n

St Pauli now sit in 16th, in a relegation playoff spot, with four matches remaining.<\/p>\n

They are five points and goal difference from the four teams above them who all sit on 31 points.<\/p>\n

If they remain 16th, St Pauli will play a two-leg contest against third place in the second tier for a spot in the top division next season.<\/p>\n

Jackson Irvine of FC St.Pauli in action in the Bundesliga.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Almost certain to be promoted from Bundesliga 2 is table topping Schalke, who debuted 18-year-old Australian Dylan Leonard on the weekend.<\/p>\n

The centre back turned defensive midfielder has not yet made his international debut and joined the German club from Western United.<\/p>\n

He was made to wait eight months for his debut after sustaining a serious ankle injury earlier in the season.<\/p>\n

His moment came, however, as an 81st minute substitute in a 4-1 win over SC Preu\u00dfen M\u00fcnster in front of more than 62,000 home fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were able to reward him today,\u201d Schalke boss Miron Muslic told WAZ.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday was one of those moments \u2013 in Austria, we say it was a little something extra for the player. We rewarded him for his good performances in training.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lad was on a good path, but then he suffered a serious injury. He\u2019s had a tough time <\/p>\n

\u201cBut he had a good rehabilitation and has been back in full team training for a few weeks now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jacob Italiano played another full game for Grazer AK in a 1-1 draw with SV Ried in Group B of the Austrian Bundesliga.<\/p>\n

In Denmark, goalkeeper Paul Izzo was in between the sticks for Randers\u2019 3-1 loss to Odense Boldklub.<\/p>\n

Feyenoord star Jordy Bos had a weekend off as the Eredivisie paused for the Dutch Cup final – won by AZ Alkmaar.<\/p>\n

Bos\u2019 team will return to action sitting second on the table with four games to play.<\/p>\n

PSV have already won the title, but if Feyenoord can maintain their standing in the top two, they will play in the Champions League next season.<\/p>\n

But they have drawn their last three matches and NEV are only a point behind, while Twente are two points back and Ajax are four points behind.<\/p>\n

FC Volendam’s Dutch forward #11 Aurelio Oehlers (L) fights for the ball with Feyenoord’s Australian defender #15 Jordan Bos.Source: AFP<\/p>\n

Socceroos skipper Mat Ryan also had no game due to the Copa del Ray final – won by Real Sociedad.<\/p>\n

Ryan\u2019s Levante UD won their last match as they try to avoid relegation, sitting four points from safety with seven matches still to play.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s contingent in the Scottish Premiership had the weekend off too as the league pauses to split into two groups for the remaining five games.<\/p>\n

Cammy Devlin\u2019s Hearts are top of the table and will try to ward off giants Rangers, who are one point behind, and Celtic, who are three points behind, and claim a historic title.<\/p>\n

Martin Boyle and Ante Suto\u2019s Hibernian have joined them in Group A, so they will influence the title race.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mohamed Tour\u00e9\u2019s red hot form has shown no signs of slowing down with a thunderous goal on 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