Teenage Socceroos star Lucas Herrington has made a dream start to life in the Premier League, coming on as a second-half substitute in Hull City's boilover 2-0 victory over giants Manchester United.
The 18-year-old defender didn't put a foot wrong in promoted Hull's return to the big-time when he came on to help them protect their two-goal lead.
The lanky Queenslander was immaculate at the heart of the home side's defence for the final half-hour as Hull confounded all the doubters to earn their first league victory over United in 52 years.
- Why Herrington's Premier League move is a big deal for Aussie football - Dawson: Too soon to panic? Man Utd see problems exposed in Hull defeat - Lynch: It's hard not to hop on the Nestory Irankunda hype train
Written off as overwhelming relegation favourites, with former England player Joe Cole irritating their fans with his suggestion that "Hull are gone, man," the Yorkshire side were well worth their win over a lumbering United whose build-up play was too pedestrian and attacking execution too shoddy.
In the 38th minute the Tigers' central defender Nobel Mendy, signed on the same day as Herrington earlier in the month but who got the nod to start ahead of the young Aussie, scored their second goal.
It inspired the inevitable chant around the MKM Stadium: "Are you watching, Joe Cole?!"
By that time, Michael Carrick's United were already struggling to get to grips with a side that deservedly led through a couple of first-half set-pieces.
Centre-back Semi Ajayi opened the scoring in the 17th minute when United failed to deal with a corner, and then Regan Slater whipped in a 38th minute free kick that another central defender Mendy latched on to, nodding home expertly.
But when Mendy had to come off injured in the 64th minute, Herrington -- Australia's most expensive teenager of all time -- got his big moment, the former Colorado Rapids defender coming on in a triple substitution.
Lucas Herrington of Hull City celebrates victory over Manchester United at full-time. Molly Darlington/Getty Images He became the first Aussie teenager to play in the Premier League since Harry Kewell and, at 18 years 351 days, is the third youngest from his country to play in England's top-flight.
The youngster with a big reputation for his calmness never looked fazed as United tried to eke their way back into the match with a series of largely lumbering attacks.

