Theo Wharton is likely to be spending more and more time with the Cardiff City first-team squad in the future.
First Year Apprentice Wharton – the 17-year-old godson of former Bluebirds favourite Nathan Blake – made his debut as a 70th-minute substitute in the 4-2 FA Cup defeat at West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.
And although the teenager will return to youth-team duty for Cardiff’s 4th Round FA Youth Cup tie against Spurs on Wednesday, Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay admits the Cwmbran product has a big future ahead of him.
“Theo is a young player with potential and we gave him a taste of something he has never been involved in before,” said Mackay.
“It was great experience and an eye-opener for him to play against Premier League opposition and mingle with our first-team players.”
“He is a young boy with a big future.”
Wharton was joined on the bench at the Hawthorns by fellow youth products Alex Evans, Adedeji Oshilaja and Joe Ralls.