B B C Sports: Lucien Mahovo on overcoming nerves on impressive City debu.

Lucien Mahovo confessed he had to overcome nerves to shine in his Norwich City Championship debut.

After two impressive bench appearances against Sheffield United and Leeds this week, Johannes Hoff Thorup gave the kid his first start in City’s 5-1 win against Swansea on Saturday. It rounded out a hectic week for Mahovo, who had only joined City from League Two side Notts County as a development signing in the summer. Despite his nervousness, the left-back got into the game well and helped City recover from successive defeats with an impressive victory at Carrow Road. “It was a wonderful feeling. “It’s nerve-racking to make your first start, but it’s great to finish with a 5-1 victory,” the teenager remarked.

“This has been a nerve-racking week. After the Leeds game, I could feel the anxiety because I knew I had the chance to start. I felt nervous, but there was no point in fighting it. I welcomed it, and I believe I performed well. “I just do my best.” It was still enjoyable, and I won’t complain about getting tossed in. I knew I was starting from Friday’s training session. Johannes encouraged me to relax, and we had worked on it, so I didn’t want to be anxious about it. “Yesterday was wild. My heart pounded all night. It was just trying to get to sleep and get a good night’s rest to be ready for today. Once I woke up, I was okay. It was more the week leading up to it.”

Mahovo is the latest City youngster to receive a senior debut, joining Gabe Forsyth earlier this season as Thorup seeks to incorporate more youngsters into his first-team squad. After joining Norwich in July, signing a new deal earlier this month, and now making his Championship debut, the 19-year-old’s progression at Carrow Road has been unusually swift.

Lucien Mahovo made his entire Norwich City debut in the 5-1 victory over Swansea. (Image by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd.)”Honestly, I didn’t expect it so soon. It happened just last week. I am grateful for it. I had my father here. My mother couldn’t make it, but she was watching on television, and I think she was proud,” Mahovo added. “I have not been the first. Gabe [Forsyth] came before me, and there is absolutely a road for the school. I believe it is really beneficial for others to be encouraged and continue to work hard after witnessing what I have done today. “It’s a huge club with excellent facilities. It was something I wanted to be a part of. I wanted to see what the top players were doing week in and week out.”

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