- Published
Floyd Samba's scintillating first-team debut not only stole the show at Etihad Stadium on Thursday but also snatched all the headlines away from another high-profile teenager in Manchester.
Website articles, social media posts and column inches have been filled this week with the news that highly rated 15-year-old forward JJ Gabriel is on the verge of leaving Manchester United.
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Gabriel → publish → United
But that particular saga will be overshadowed in Friday's football cuttings by 17-year-old Samba's stunning bow on the professional stage, scoring twice in Manchester City's 5-0 Carabao Cup third-round thrashing of Norwich City.
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saga → overshadow → City
Samba was prolific in City's under-18 side last season and those impressive performances led to him being promoted to the first-team set-up by new manager Enzo Maresca this summer.
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him → lead → Maresca
The show of faith is already being repaid.
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show → repay → faith
"I knew there would be an opportunity to get some minutes for the first time with the first team," Samba told BBC Radio 5 Live.
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Samba → know → Radio
"To get a debut like that is mind-blowing.
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get → get → that
I couldn't believe it myself - but that is just the beginning, I have got a big career ahead of me.
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I → believe → me
"I spoke to all of them [first-team players], they have all been brilliant with me - before the game, giving me advice like 'play your game, be you' - those words have given me confidence and helped me score those two goals today.
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me → speak → goals
"
Unfamiliar position for Samba
The youngster joined City's academy at under-nine level and he really started to make a name for himself last term.
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he → join → himself
Samba scored 24 goals and provided 10 assists in an eye-catching first full season with the under-18s, including curling home a stunning free-kick to help City win the FA Youth Cup final against rivals Manchester United in May.
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City → score → May
On his debut, Samba played the entire 90 minutes and fully grasped his opportunity.
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Samba → play → opportunity
With City struggling for openings, Samba broke the deadlock by flicking home a header - he celebrated by blowing a kiss in the direction of family and friends in the stands, before curling in a delightful second later in the game.
Samba was afforded a generous ovation towards the end of the game when being deservedly named man of the match.
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Samba → struggle → match
"[I'm] satisfied not just for the goals but for the performance too," said manager Maresca.
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Maresca → say → performance
"I asked him in the last three, four days - when I decided to play him as nine - he said he never played there.
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he → ask → nine
"He is young, full of energy, strong, can finish, can set [players up].
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He → finish → players
He made some good decisions in the first half.
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He → make → half
I am happy but they are young and we have to go slowly, slowly.
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we → have → ?
"Hopefully we can give him more chances.
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we → give → chances
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Fleet-footed Samba a contrast to father
The Samba surname will be familiar to those of a certain age who have followed the Premier League.
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who → follow → League
Floyd is the son of former Blackburn and QPR defender Christopher, who played 171 top-flight matches for those two sides, as well as a further 12 in the Championship with Aston Villa.
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who → play → Villa
The City forward is the younger of two brothers at the club, with Tyrone also involved in the youth team, and will now be aiming to play more first-team minutes after an exciting debut.
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Tyrone → involve → debut
"Coming from under-21s to first-team training, that is a big jump," added Samba.
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Samba → come → training
"The sessions are more tiring, you have to run more - they demand more of you and you have to cope with it."
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you → have → it
Former Norwich striker Chris Sutton added on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Absolutely brilliant moment for Floyd.
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Sutton → add → Floyd
It's the journey, he has been nurtured at Man City, got his moment and what a night for him.
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he → nurture → him
"He has given Enzo Maresca a bit of food for thought moving forward.
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He → give → thought
Of course, he is not going to play ahead of Erling Haaland but it is a great evening for him and good for his development.
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it → go → development
"Maresca can think he can trust him a little bit more."
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he → think → him
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