Marcus Berg Set to Break Ice with Big Guns

Sweden striker Marcus Berg looks set to be the hottest property to emerge from the Under-21 European Championships this summer.

The Under-21 hitman blasted a superb hat-trick in the hosts' opening 5-1 demolition of Belarus earlier in the week and the big guns across Europe are sure to send scouts to check on the Groningen man in the remainder of the tournament.

The 22-year-old showed lightning speed, terrific movement and fine heading and finishing ability as Sweden came from behind to overpower Belarus in Malamo with the help of Berg's well-taken treble.

Berg, who was born in Torsby—the hometown of Sven-Goran Eriksson—has not played for the Under-21 side for over year after making the senior side, but he took little time to settle back in and almost headed home a fourth goal only for the Belarus keeper to make a terrific flying stop.

Numerous clubs both in England and on the Continent will be keeping an eye on his progress in the tougher tests to come against Italy Under-21s and Serbia Under-21s and his Dutch club side will have a battle to keep hold of him.

Groningen landed Berg in 2007 for £2.5million from IFK Gothenburg after he helped them to the Swedish title by scoring 14 goals in 17 matches.

Since then Berg has developed in the Eredivisie and blasted 30 goals in his first 50 Dutch top-flight games, which has seen him capped by the Swedish senior side.

Berg in fact scored his first senior international goal in the 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Malta earlier this month.