CLARETS starlet Alex MacDonald has described his first senior goal as "the biggest moment of my career".

The 18-year-old former youth team striker was warmly congratulated by his team mates at St Johnstone on Wednesday night after finding the net for the first time since progressing to the senior ranks.

And the Warrington-born forward, who was last season named as Youth Team Player of the Year, insisted it was a proud moment for the MacDonald family north of the border.

He said: "It was nice to get my first goal for the youth team, but a first goal for the first team is just something special.

"To hear the crowd roar when I scored was brilliant and I'm still buzzing about it now.

"My dad and little brother were up there as well, so it was a proud moment.

"For me, it's the biggest moment of my career so far. All the lads congratulated me and said hopefully it was the first of many, and I hope they're right!"

MacDonald (hidden, left) fires home at St Johnstone ...

... salutes the Clarets fans ...

... and reserves a special fist clench for the family

It has been a whirlwind year for MacDonald, who was crowned Youth Team Player of the Year in May 2008 after a campaign that saw him score 18 goals in the reserves and youth teams.

MacDonald, who joined the Centre of Excellence at the beginning of the 2005/06 season - having been spotted playing for Cheshire Schoolboys - stepped up to train with the first team in March 2008 and capped a remarkable few months with his first team debut in the final home game of the 2007/08 season against Cardiff City.

A first professional contract followed - and the enthusiastic youngster showed no fear when thrown into the fray in America and the three pre-season games in Scotland, at Queen of the South, Partick Thistle and St Johnstone, where he scored his milestone first senior goal with a clinical finish.

Alex in action at Partick Thistle

He admitted: "It's all happening so fast that it's surreal still at the minute, just being in and around the lads.

"It's not hit home yet that I'm with them, but the tours have been first class and all the lads have been brilliant.

"It's been a great experience and I can't wait for the season to get started."