Mpanzu featured for the first time since April when he was forced off with a hamstring injury against Huddersfield Town.

Doughty had been a regular in pre-season but was later sidelined and after being included in the matchday squad against Blackburn Rovers at the weekend, got his first taste of action back on the pitch.

The Development Squad raced into a three-goal lead inside 20 minutes, courtesy of a brace from Tobias Braney and a close-range finish by Tra Lucas.

It was the least they deserved after an electric start and it was unlucky not to be more as the two aforementioned forwards both went close before finding the back of the net.

Conor Lawless set up the first goal with expert precision, playing a ball over the top of the Academy 23 defence, and Braney reversed his shot to find the far corner.

Braney, who joined the club from Bowers & Pitsea in the summer, added a second within three minutes of his first with a near-post finish, before Lucas capitalised on a defensive error to tap into an empty net.

He could well of had another goal to his name, Lucas, after Mpanzu picked him out with a brilliant through ball but his chipped effort was just wide of the target.

However, it didn’t take long to find a fourth, and then a fifth goal before half-time in what was a relentless display.

Lawless switched from creator to goalscorer in the 37th minute, firing low past the goalkeeper after a scramble in the box.

Braney secured his hat-trick following good work from Tyrelle Newton, who today signed his first professional contract with the club, with a sweeping low shot.

Doughty got himself on the scoresheet within the opening stages of the second half, racing through on goal and finding the bottom corner via the post.

Braney’s purple patch continued in the second half after the battling with the goalkeeper and the ball dropped to the forward, who turned and fired into an empty net from outside the area.

Soon after Under-21 Lead Coach Adrian Forbes introduced Callum Nicolson and Josh Allen, the latter saw his shot saved but Lawless was quick to react and score the rebound.

Mpanzu and Doughty were replaced in the 70th minute, both coming through the match unscathed and with valuable minutes in the tank during their respective returns from injury.

Allen, who was free-scoring for the Under 18s last season, got in on the act, tapping home after Nicolson’s one-on-one effort was saved.

Matt Macey was relatively untroubled all afternoon but he was on his toes to produce a flying stop in the final few minutes to deny Academy 23 a consolation goal.

Newton came close to making it double figures but for his effort to be cleared off the line, as the Development Squad continued their unbeaten start to the season in sensational fashion.

Development Squad: Macey; Jones, Pettit (C), Tompkins, Doughty (Williams 70'); Mpanzu (Odell-Bature 70'), Newton, Idiakhoa (Nicolson 65’), Lawless; Lucas, Braney.

Subs not used: Horlick.

Goals: Braney (14’, 17’, 40’, 52), Lucas (20’), Lawless (37’, 67'), Doughty (46'), Allen (79')