Former Leeds United youngster Sam Dalby has made himself at home at Watford after bagging a hat-trick on his debut for the club.
The academy striker left Elland Road this summer after a year and a half to join the Hornets for an undisclosed fee.
The 19-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Premier League side, with the options of an additional year, having struggled to make a breakthrough in West Yorkshire.
Dalby made the perfect impression with his new employers this weekend, netting three goals in his first appearance for the club as Javi Garcia’s side drew 3-3 with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
That's one way for a new signing to impress!
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) July 28, 2019
A 3-3 draw with German side @RBLeipzig_EN
And a hat-trick for Sam Dalby pic.twitter.com/eVKiThQ1ep
The young striker joined the Whites in January 2018, teaming up with Carlos Corberan’s Under-23s.
He spent the second half of last season on the books of Morecambe but failed to make an impression at the Globe Arena, registering only two substitute appearances.
With a year left on his contract and his career looking to be at a standstill, a top-flight move caught many off guard.
Despite failing to make a single senior appearance at Elland Road, he seems to taken well to life at Vicarage Road.
With Kemar Roofe, Patrick Bamford and Tyler Roberts all in front of him, not to mention the likes of youngster Ryan Edmondson in the Thorp Arch crop, Dalby did not do enough to convince the club he would make the cut at first-team level, with Marcelo Bielsa was happy to sanction the move.
Whilst Leeds United received an undisclosed fee for his services, they will be hoping that this showing won’t make the Whites regret letting the young prodigy leave.
