Manchester Metropolis teenager Floyd Samba described his senior debut as “mind-blowing” after netting a brace within the 5–0 EFL Cup third-round demolition of Norwich City on the Etihad Stadium.
The 17-year-old ahead – son of former Blackburn Rovers and QPR defender Chris Samba – took centre stage as Enzo Maresca’s closely rotated facet simply swept apart Championship opposition to arrange a fourth-round tie in opposition to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Samba set the holders on their method early on, rising to information dwelling a intelligent header following tremendous work down the proper flank by fellow full debutant Allan. Rayan Cherki rapidly doubled Metropolis’s benefit simply three minutes later, latching onto a pinpoint Ayyoub Bouaddi cross to interrupt Norwich’s excessive defensive position.
Allan made it 3–0 shortly after the interval with a pointy solo strike, chopping inside from the left earlier than angling a end throughout aim. Samba then capped his dream night with Metropolis’s fourth earlier than the hour mark, curling an beautiful effort into the online from an analogous angle along with his proud father watching on from the stands. Fellow academy expertise Ryan McAidoo added a fifth within the last minute to finish the rout.
Speaking after the game, Samba mirrored on studying he was in line for minutes in opposition to the Canaries.
He stated: “Proper earlier than the sport yesterday, the day earlier than – I knew there could be a possibility to get some minutes for the primary time with the primary group. To get a debut like that’s thoughts blowing. I couldn’t imagine it myself – however that’s just the start, I’ve acquired a giant profession forward of me. It was an ideal debut.”
{The teenager}, who has been a part of Metropolis’s academy since Below-9 stage, additionally admitted the step up from youth soccer to senior stage was a serious take a look at bodily and tactically.
He stated: “I couldn’t be happier proper now, being my first senior debut, it’s a must to count on the whole lot to go effectively, the depth, the extent of gamers, the whole lot goes up and you’ve got to have the ability to match it and address it, and I feel I did effectively with that.”
EFL Cup: Fourth spherical
Fixtures to be performed in week of 26 October 2026
- Fleetwood City v Arsenal
- Manchester Metropolis v Brighton
- Everton v Newcastle
- Sunderland v Brentford
- Liverpool v Chelsea
- Bradford Metropolis v Peterborough
- Fulham v Crystal Palace
- Bournemouth v Aston Villa
