By George Overhill

22nd Sep, 2022 | 9:00am

Leeds United striker Sonny Perkins extends 100% scoring record with debut England under-19s goal

Sonny Perkins maintained his incredible scoring record this season by adding to his Leeds United haul with a goal on his England under-19s debut.

The 18-year-old striker scored the second in a 2-0 win over Montenegro in the European Championship qualifier on Wednesday night (21 September).

It was the teenager’s first game upon stepping up from the under-18s age group following a blistering start to the season with the Whites under-21s after his contentious exit from West Ham.

The Hammers felt highly aggrieved that what they felt were extortionate wage demands for a new contract helped force his exit.

But since he arrived at Thorp Arch he has yet to play a game without scoring at least once, and maintained that record during the international break.

In form

He scored five times in his first four Premier League 2 appearances in a Whites shirt, picking up the Player of the Month award in the competition as a result.

On the same day he was given the honour he added his sixth Leeds strike in a Friday evening (16 September) thrashing of the Southampton under-21s, and also received his call-up to the Three Lions under-19s for the first time.

Everything he touches continues to turn to gold, or more accurately everything he shoots continues to end up in the net, in a run of form that will be forcing Jesse Marsch to take notice.

Patrick Bamford may be back from injury, netting a hat-trick as he appeared in the 6-2 win over Southampton’s youngsters alongside his junior colleague, but the American manager must be considering Perkins for an opportunity in the senior set-up before long.

It will also not have gone unnoticed in east London where the departure of a player they rated highly already rankles, so to see him go from strength to strength after having secured his exit will sting all the more.

How long he can keep this run up remains to be seen, but amid the pressure of increased scrutiny due to the manner of his departure from the Hammers, and needing to adapt to new surroundings in West Yorkshire, he has now hit seven across six consecutive games for a 100% success-rate, which is some achievement already.

In other Leeds United news, the club are battling with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City for Cole Brannigan.