Glenn Murray has hailed the goalscoring instinct which has taken Aaron Connolly into the Premier League.

The Republic of Ireland international is away on under-21 duty with his country after making his top-flight Albion debut at Manchester City.

Connolly, 19, could have a key role to play for his club this season.

And Murray, who saw him get off the mark for the senior side at Bristol Rovers recently, has revealed he likes what he sees of his young colleague.

Murray told The Argus: “He has got a lot of developing to do but the instinct to score goals is there and that is hard to find.

“Once you have got that goalscoring knack, it is just about bettering your all-round game.

“He is an exciting young player.”

Asked whether the goal-getting instinct is natural or taught, Murray said: “In Aaron’s case, I think it is natural and it’s a desire as well.

“He wants to get in, he keeps getting in constantly

“Obviously he gets knock-backs, setbacks, the ball doesn’t come.

“But he keeps making those same runs, those dangerous runs and eventually one drops.

“When it does drop, he has got the composure to put it away.”

The Irish under-21 s tackle Armenia in Dublin on Friday and are away to their Swedish counterparts on Tuesday.