While Huddersfield's 17-year-old Jamie Spencer recently scored with his second touch during his first-team debut against Doncaster on September 9, the discussion has turned to an even rarer achievement: scoring with the very first touch of a professional career.
This elite group includes Jack Aitchison for Celtic in 2016, Matt Hatch for Central Coast Mariners in 2021, and Michael Ricketts for Walsall in 1996. Maheta Molango, now the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, also achieved this for Brighton in 2004, as did Yan Dhanda for Swansea City in 2018.
Other notable instances include Luke Medley, who scored a stunning half-volley with his first touch for Bradford in 2007 at 18 years old. Raphael Meade scored with a bicycle kick on his Arsenal debut against Panathinaikos in the Uefa Cup in September 1981. Ibra Sekajja netted an 88th-minute equaliser with his first touch for Crystal Palace in 2011, and Alan Smith equalised for Leeds at Anfield with his first touch after coming off the bench.