SWISS ACE ON A ROLL

Tolaj is repaying faith at Shots

- Jon Couch

HE’S already moved mountains on his way to a proud international goal record, now Swiss striker Lorent Tolaj is scaling all new heights on English soil at Aldershot Town.

The six-foot striker, 22 tomorrow, has climbed his way into the affections of the Shots faithful after netting eight goals in his first two months in senior football since being released by Brighton & Hove Albion.

A relative unknown, Tolaj gave early notice of his talents with a brace in Aldershot’s season opener against Oxford City, and then claimed another personal milestone last Saturday when scoring his first senior hat-trick in a 4-1 FA Cup victory over Lewes.

In all, it’s capped a groundbreaking start to Tolaj’s professional career in England – but things haven’t always gone quite so smoothly for the new Shots golden boy.

Five years learning his trade in the Brighton academy included rather unproductive loans spells in League One at Cambridge United, Salford City and Scottish Championship club Dundee before his time at the Amex came to an end in the summer.