Tony Pulis hailed Saido Berahino after the striker's four goals inspired West Brom to an FA Cup romp.
The England Under-21 ace netted an 11 minute hat-trick either side of half-time as the Baggies thrashed Gateshead 7-0.
It was Pulis' first game after being appointed as head coach at The Hawthorns on Thursday.
Technical director Terry Burton has admitted Albion could sell Berahino in January but the club have so far had no offers for their star.
He took his tally to 13 for the season and Pulis is eager to get to know the hotshot after the third round win.
"The kid is a very talented lad, with great ability and obviously he scores and I am looking forward to working with him," he said.
"I haven't trained with him so I've got that to come but he looks a very talented boy.
"I hope he keeps reading the headlines if he scores four every week.
"Someone said he didn't celebrate but it was lovely to see all the lads go over when we scored a goal as that showed the unity we'll need."
Albion were outplayed by their Vanarama Conference visitors for the first 40 minutes until Berahino and Victor Anichebe struck just before the break.
Pulis started the game from the stands but was forced onto the touchline after just 15 minutes as the Baggies struggled and knows he needs to reignite his side.
"I had no intention of going down but we started very apprehensively," he said. "They shouldn't be like that and that's got to be eradicated. We must play with confidence and belief.
"Confidence is always a big thing in any sport and winning things is vital for confidence.
"I won't be wearing the suit next week. I had no intention of going down, I was going to stay upstairs and watch and analyse it that way but I get too involved. I just can't do it."
Albion scored five goals in 13 minutes as Chris Brunt added to Berahino's hat-trick and Anichebe's strike.
James Morrison made it 6-0 before Berahino wrapped up the win in style with a cool finish in stoppage time.
Gateshead had chances in the first half, with John Oster shooting over and Alex Rodman testing Boaz Myhill, and boss Gary Mills was pleased with their start - before they collapsed.
He said: "I thought we were excellent for 40 minutes. Then conceding two before half time killed us.
"We had two or three good chances and we were the better side. The worst I felt we would be was 0-0 at half time and we go in 2-0 down.
"We'll move on, we knew we weren't going to win the competition but we wanted to give a good account of ourselves.
"We have been knocked out of the FA Cup and have to get back up the league. We are close to the play-offs and have a big game against Woking on Wednesday and we want to show what we're about."
Source: PA
