SAM Allardyce is refusing to get too carried away with his prolific, young scoring prodigy.

First impressions are that Wanderers have unearthed a real gem in the shape of Ricardo Vaz Te but Big Sam knows better than to make extravagent claims for a player who is still only 16.

"We'll have to wait and see," the manager says cautiously. "But it is always exciting to think you might have a goalscorer on your hands."

Nevertheless, the kid they already refer to simply as Ricardo, has really set tongues wagging with his scoring exploits since he arrived from Portugal, where Benfica and Porto were on his trail.

Eight goals in three games, including two hat-tricks ... not bad for a 16-year-old playing in an under 19s set-up!

He has not managed to find the net in two substitute appearances for the reserves but he has been close on each occasion.

Academy scouts will be running the rule over even younger talent when they stage two cup competitions for the area's under sevens this month.

More than 250 youngsters, who play in the Bolton and Bury Mini Soccer League, will compete in the first knockout tournament at Ladybridge Football Club on Sunday, September 21 and, although numbers will be fewer the following week when Walshaw Sports Club is the venue for the kids from North Bury Junior League, the standard is likely to be just as high.

Academy teams start at under nines but the talent spotting starts at under sevens level and the cup competitions offer an opportunity for local youngsters to get on the first rung of the Reebok ladder.