Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey has thanked Manager Gus Poyet after being given his first start for the club.
Currently in the second year of his Apprenticeship the 17-year-old marked the occasion by scoring his first senior goal in the 3-0 win over Southampton on Monday.
Forster-Caskey told BBC Sussex: “The gaffer showed his faith in me and hopefully I’ve restored it with a goal and a good performance.”
“He hasn’t pushed me too much or too early. I can only thank him for that.”
Forster-Caskey made his debut for the club when still a schoolboy in 2010 and has since appeared twice as a substitute.
With the Seagulls missing 11 first-team players through injury and suspension for the visit of the Championship leaders Forster-Caskey knows that further first-team outings are far from guaranteed.
“The challenge all year has been trying to get into the squad,” he continued.
“I can only do what the gaffer asks me to do. If he asks me to play, I’ll play. If not I’ve just got to bide my time – I’m still young.”