Leeds United began their pre-season schedule with a comprehensive 16-0 thumping of Italian amateurs FC Gherdeina.

Matt Smith scored six goals and Noel Hunt completed a hat-trick as new head coach David Hockaday watched his side produce a record-breaking display.

The victory in northern Italy was United’s biggest ever in a pre-season fixture, eclipsing a 15-0 rout of Swedish club Byske back in 1999.

Hunt’s treble, backed up by Steve Morison (2), Lewis Walters and David Norris made it 7-0 at the interval, before Hockaday made wholesale changes for the second half.

Smith then dominated the scoring with his double hat-trick as Dominic Poleon (2) and Luke Murphy completed the tally.