Manchester Metropolis teen 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 aspect simply swept apart Championship opposition to arrange a fourth-round tie towards Brighton & Hove Albion.
Samba set the holders on their approach early on, rising to information dwelling a intelligent header following high-quality work down the proper flank by fellow full debutant Allan. Rayan Cherki shortly 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 purpose. Samba then capped his dream night with Metropolis’s fourth earlier than the hour mark, curling an beautiful effort into the online from an identical angle along with his proud father watching on from the stands. Fellow academy expertise Ryan McAidoo added a fifth within the closing minute to finish the rout.
Speaking after the game, Samba mirrored on studying he was in line for minutes towards the Canaries.
He mentioned: “Proper earlier than the sport yesterday, the day earlier than – I knew there can be a chance 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 only the start, I’ve bought a giant profession forward of me. It was a fantastic 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 significant take a look at bodily and tactically.
He mentioned: “I couldn’t be happier proper now, being my first senior debut, you must anticipate all the things to go nicely, the depth, the extent of gamers, all the things goes up and you’ve got to have the ability to match it and address it, and I believe I did nicely 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
