England Under-21s striker Nathan Delfouneso scores a brace on his home debut for Blackpool.

England Under-21s striker Nathan Delfouneso was delighted after bagging a brace on his home debut for Blackpool on Tuesday night, but was disappointed he didn’t complete his hat-trick.

Delfouneso, who made a recent loan switch from Aston Villa to Ian Holloway’s Tangerines, netted twice in the first half of their 4-1 win over Middlesbrough at Bloomfield Road. Jason Steele, in the Boro goal, was unable to deny his young Lions team mate.

Fellow Under-21s star Tom Ince then made it 3-1 after the break following a Delfouneso pass. And the youngster could have capped a memorable night with a hat-trick late on, but his header was ruled out for offside.

It was his first start for Blackpool and his first 90 minutes of the season, and the 21-year-old said he enjoyed his chance.

"I couldn't have asked for anything better really, except for my goal to have stood in the second half and to have a hat-trick, but it wasn't meant to be,” said Delfouneso, who missed England's win over Norway last week due to illness.

"The main thing though was to get the victory and that was what the aim was for today.

"I will probably feel it tomorrow but I enjoyed it. It was great to be out there and great to be playing,” he told the official Blackpool website.

"That's what I'm here for and that's what I'm looking to do and it was just really enjoyable being out there.

"I'm happy to have the opportunity and hopefully I can repay the faith the manager has shown in me."