NEXT GEMS: Gift Orban, The New Kid On The European Block

Orban has been the gift that keeps on giving to his new side Gent this season. The Nigerian-born forward signed for the Belgian side on Deadline Day this January for only €3.3m, and he's already proving to be arguably the bargain of the season.

He has been continuously surpassing expectations & breaking records in senior football since his move to Stabæk in Norway's First Division from the Bison FC Academy in his homeland.

In his one season in Norwegian football, he topped the goalscoring charts, collecting the Golden Boot & Young Player of The Year award as he scored 16 goals. Stabæk gained promotion to the top flight during this campaign.

The striker has been on scintillating form already this season having scored 9 goals in 7 games in the Belgian Pro League, averaging a goal or assist every 65 minutes.

It's not just domestically where the young 20-year-old is hitting the net as he's got 14 goals in all competitions for Gent thus for, including a record breaking hat-trick in the UEFA Conference League.

His 3 minute & 24 second hat-trick against Istanbul Başakşehir made him the youngest hat-trick scorer in the competitions relatively young history but also the quickest hat-trick in any UEFA European club competition.

'[This] could possibly lead to him getting blacklisted from the senior team in the future. If it was a call up to the Super Eagles will the club say no?' was Yusuf's reaction to a media question insinuating that his invitation was sent to Gent late.

Despite only joining Gent in January, it's expected Orban will make the leap to a bigger club/division this upcoming summer window with many big clubs reportedly monitoring the Nigerian. AC Milan, Napoli and Premier League side, Leeds United, are all interested in the Bison FC Academy product for a fee reported to close to £17.5m.

His career hasn't been without some controversy as he reportedly snubbed the latest Nigerian U23 International call-up. Orban was selected for their Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers in March but was a no show: 'we sent an invitation letter, he didn't come, so we don't know why' stated Nigeria U23 Head Coach, Salisu Yusuf.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) are currently investigating the circumstances for the snub.

Orban is a dual national as he's also eligible for Togo, through his mother. Many will be hoping this 'snub' was a misunderstanding & not ego, they won't want him following Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor's antics.