'Just the beginning' - Samba, 17, steals Man City show

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.

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.

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.

"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. "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. It was a great debut.

"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."

The youngster joined City's academy at under-nine level and he really started to make a name for himself last term.