Ravel Morrison, the troubled 20-year-old whose behaviour effectively cost him a future at Manchester United, struck the winner on his full West Ham debut in their 2-1 Capital One Cup victory over Cheltenham on Tuesday night.
Just 40 seconds into the second half, the former United attacker collected the ball on the edge of the area, turned inside and then out to leave the entire Cheltenham defence wrong-footed before curling the ball low into the corner.
Regarded as the best academy product at United since Paul Scholes, Morrison was instrumental as United won the 2011 FA Youth Cup but was sold in January last year amid rumours of ill-discipline and a questionable attitude.
Morrison was regarded as the best United academy talent since Paul Scholes
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce gave him one substitute appearance the season before he loaned Morrison out to Birmingham last term - and a stint in the Championship appears to have benefitted the Wythenshawe forward.
Hammers assistant Neil McDonald revealed: "As a young kid coming from Manchester thinking he could walk into the team, it was a bit of a shock to him that he didn't.
"I think the penny has dropped now and he's come back a wiser young man and we look forward to him keeping knocking on the manager's door.
"Now he has to keep scoring, he has to keep the ball, his all-round performance has to be good and he has to be consistent."
West Ham were already leading through Ricardo Vaz Té's curling free-kick, awarded after Morrison - who moments earlier was booked for diving - had been fouled 25 yards out.