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He's the Aston Villa youngster with an extravagant name who's making real strides beavering away at Bodymoor Heath.

Teenage youth star Indiana Vassilev scored another two last night in the under-23's 5-3 win over Middlesbrough.

The 18-year-old is a proper poacher with an eye for a goal having now scored four in his last six youth team matches.

His 30-minute brace left supporters watching in awe, with some suggesting a call up could soon be on the horizon given Villa's striker situation.

Villa's first-team forward, Wesley, has been criticised in recent weeks following what's now an eight-game goal drought. The Brazilian appears sapped of confidence and, in his last 180 minutes, has registered just a single, off-target shot at goal.

With Villa unlikely to splurge the dollar again next month, could their little-known American, Vassilev, save Dean Smith millions of pounds?

Villa simply aren't in the market for a big-money striker, with Smith himself ruling out such an option at last week's press conference.

So, a question could be asked is this: will Villa promote from within?

Vassilev, of Bulgarian heritage, grew up in Savannah, Georgia, and was scouted by Villa ripping it up for the USA under-17s in the 2017 World Cup.

The left-footed youngster is stocky who can play wide, as a 10 or up front. He scored with his first touch, a glancing header, after replacing a lacklustre Jonathan Kodjia in a youth game against Newcastle back at Villa Park in early November.

It's clear Vassilev has a goal-scorer's instinct who was watched close-hand by head coach Smith last night during the eight-goal thriller.

The American, wearing No.9, scored another header against Boro while he added his second with a sweetly-struck low drive. He's clever, got immaculate ball control who keeps putting in point-proving performances in front of Smith.

Kevin Hartman, a coach at the IMG Academy where Vassilev was picked up in America by Villa, said: “He understands what’s going on around him and it allows him to not only be better himself, but it makes the players around him better.

“He’s got great leadership qualities and he’s got an undying desire to win every time he plays. That competitiveness is an attribute that I think every coach is going to be looking for and it really drives development.

“His future is boundless. He has all the physical capabilities of a top level player. The attributes and the characteristics that he has within are the ones that will drive his development. I don’t see a limit to what he can achieve.”

As for Smith and Vassilev's chances, the youngster would have been drafted into first-team sessions over the last international break. It now remains to be seen now if the American has given the head coach food for thought going into the ever-busy festive period.

One thing is for sure, though, if Vassilev keeps banging on the door with goals at Premier League 2 level, a door will eventually open.