Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin says teenage striker Alfie Bavidge has earned the chance to shine in the United States.
The highly-rated 16-year-old was selected in the Dons squad for the winter training camp in Atlanta.
Bavidge netted three successive hat-tricks for the Dons in the Club Academy Scotland Under-18 league last month.
He then followed that up with another hat-trick in the 6-0 defeat of Hamilton Academical on November 4.
Goodwin revealed it was this sensational goal return which earned teen star Bavidge his seat on the plane out to the States.
A number of other U18 squad rising stars have also travelled to the training camp in Atlanta.
Boss Goodwin says it is a reward for their impressive form with the U18s.
Goodwin is set to give Bavidge and other rising stars the chance to impress in a friendly against an Atlanta United XI.
The Dons will face the MLS outfit at their $60 million training complex at 3pm EST (8pm GMT).
Goodwin told RedTV: “Alfie Bavidge is having a terrific season with the U18s and is scoring goals for fun.
“He has earned the right to be here this trip.
“A number of the young guys who are here have trained with the first team at one point or another so far.
“Players like Dylan Lobban and Liam Harvey who was involved through the League Cup group stages.
“It gives me a good opportunity to see those boys in the flesh.
“It will hopefully be a very exciting time for them.
“And it is very much reward for the hard work they have done in the Academy.”
Extra training sessions for teen stars
Teen goal star Bavidge has represented Scotland at U16 and U17 level.
Last season he finished top scorer at the prestigious Victory Shield for the young Scots.
Clubs in Scotland and England were interested in landing the striker, but he opted to sign as a professional with Aberdeen.
🔥 Our U18's produced a brilliant performance as they defeated Hamilton Accies 6-0 at Cormack Park this evening.
⚽️ Alfie Bavidge grabbed another hat-trick with Liam Harvey, Brendan Hamilton and Alfie Stewart also netting. COYR! pic.twitter.com/BK7BupYSMj
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) November 4, 2022
Midfielder Harvey, 17, made his Dons debut in the 2-0 League Cup defeat of Peterhead in July.
Goodwin has confirmed he will put on extra sessions at Atlanta United’s state-of-the-art training complex to run the rule over the rising teen stars.
He said: “Some of the senior lads will do a little less than those young boys will do.
“We will probably put on two or three extra sessions for those kids just so that I can work closely with them.
“And to maintain their fitness when they go back to the Youth Academy boys and take part in their games again.
“We are very wary of that pathway from the Academy into the first team.
“Those guys are heading in the right direction and hopefully we can continue to integrate them into the squad over the next few months as well.”
Conversation