Samba, 17, scores twice on Man City debut in Carabao Cup rout

Manchester City beat Norwich City 5-0 at Etihad Stadium on Thursday in the Carabao Cup third round, with the night belonging to 17-year-old Floyd Samba, who scored twice on his first-team debut.

Samba, who impressed for City's under-18 side last season, was promoted into the first-team set-up this summer by new manager Enzo Maresca. Playing all 90 minutes on his debut, he opened the scoring with a header before adding a curling second goal later in the match.

Rise through the academy

Samba joined City's academy at under-nine level. Last season with the under-18s he scored 24 goals and provided 10 assists, including a memorable free-kick in the FA Youth Cup final win over Manchester United.

"I knew there would be an opportunity to get some minutes for the first time with the first team. To get a debut like that is mind-blowing — I couldn't believe it myself, but that is just the beginning, I have got a big career ahead of me," Samba told BBC Radio 5 Live after the match.

He received a generous ovation late in the game and was named man of the match. Maresca said he had spoken to Samba in the days before the game about playing as a striker, a position the teenager had never occupied before, and that he had performed well.

Family football ties

Floyd is the son of former Blackburn and QPR defender Christopher Samba, who played 171 Premier League matches. His brother Tyrone is also part of City's youth setup. Former Norwich striker Chris Sutton, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, called the debut a brilliant moment, adding that Maresca can now trust the young forward a little more going forward.