In his 87th match as a professional, Chelsea loanee Ike Ugbo scored his first career brace to help Cerlce Brugge hammer KAA Gent in a Belgium First Division A match at the Jan Breydelstadion (Brugge) on Saturday afternoon, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The former England U17 international has already shown glimpses of why he was rated on the same level as Tammy Abraham during his time with Chelsea's youth teams, with his two goals taking his tally for the season to four in seven games and also impressed at Roda JC last term, notching 13 goals in 29 matches.

In the festival of goals, Ugbo got in the act when he pounced on a rebound to make it 3-1 on 57 minutes and with the opponents threatening a comeback after Yaremchuk converted from the spot, Cercle Brugge needed another goal from the Anglo-Nigerian in the 78th minute to make sure the points were taken.

The 22-year-old, who joined Chelsea at the age of nine, previously spent time on loan at Football League clubs Barnsley, Milton Keynes Dons and Scunthorpe United before heading abroad in 2019.

Ugbo held talks with Nigerian Federation officials over switching his allegiance to Nigeria at the Super Eagles Crowne Plaza Hotel Ealing hotel in March 2018 before the national team's friendly with Serbia.

The London-born striker is also eligible for the French national team.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : cerclebrugge.be