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Wycombe striker Richard Kone thanked team-mate Luke Leahy for handing penalty duty over to him after scoring the first professional hat-trick of his career.

Kone joined the Chairboys from non-league club Athletic Newham in January and his treble against Peterborough took his total for the season to eight goals.

All three came in the space of nine minutes after he was sent on as a substitute with Wycombe trailing 1-0 - and they went on to win 3-1.

"I've got to say thank you to him because he let me have it (the penalty)," Kone told ´óÏó´«Ã½ Three Counties Radio.

"I was just trying to see if I could get at least one to get us back in the game and to get two more, I couldn't ask for more.

"I'm always working to try and learn more, trying to improve myself, and learn from the boys - they are all helping me in my career in this league."

Kone has been used as an impact substitute by boss Matt Bloomfield in almost half of his 29 league appearances so far.

"We know Richard's got goals in his feet, it's just about managing him and managing those moments (to bring him on)," said Bloomfield.

"I actually thought Dan Udoh was excellent in the time before Rich was on the pitch, but then goes and plays left wing for us - he's just such a selfless character.

"For him to perform like that and then be so pleased for Rich, you saw the celebrations he had with him."

Bloomfield said Leahy's gesture towards Kone, when the score was 2-1, would only enhance the camaraderie within the squad.

"Luke is a real leader for us and it's nice that he passed that responsibility over to Richard," he added.

The win put Wycombe third in League One, with only big-budget Birmingham City and Wrexham above them in the table.

They are away to Burton Albion in midweek before taking on Leyton Orient at Adams Park on Saturday.