Bristol City manager Derek McInnes has revealed how teenage starlet Joe Bryan was earmarked as a first-team player of the future from the early days of his managerial reign.
McInnes and assistant Tony Docherty spent their first week in charge last October assessing the squad and deciding which players might be of use in their quest to retain Championship status.
Academy product Bryan, still in his first year as a professional, caught their eye straight away.
McInnes claims he had no qualms about handing the 18-year-old winger a surprise debut against play-off hopefuls Leicester on Tuesday in a pressurised situation where the Robins were desperate to end an eight-game run without a win.
The manager's gamble certainly paid off as Bryan gave City crucial natural balance on the left side of midfield and set-up Kalifa Cisse for the first goal in a 3-2 victory that hauled the Robins five points clear of the drop zone.
Explaining a team selection that saw utility defender Richard Foster deployed on the right and Bryan on the opposite flank, McInnes said: "We felt the midfield four had the energy we needed.
"They showed good pace and also offered the back four protection.
"One of Joe's attributes and strengths is that he likes to hold his position and play in the wider areas and that gave us natural balance.
"Even from the first few days after we came in and were assessing the players, he was always one we felt would play in the first team. It was just a matter of when."
McInnes took a calculated risk in starting with Bryan, but always felt the youngster would be able to handle the occasion.
He said: "There was a reluctance and possibly a concern about putting him in given the run we were on, but sometimes that youthfulness and enthusiasm can inspire the other players and the supporters – and I think that was the case.
"I had no fears that he would not handle the occasion and he did his job well.
"He is a well-balanced boy, he shows a maturity and works hard and is a good professional.
"We had a trust in him and you need that. He has shown a level of consistency in his training of late, which was important, because we were always watching him.
"We felt he was steadily improving and becoming more sure of himself in training and playing that game will do him the world of good."
Meanwhile, McInnes has admitted he almost substituted striker Jon Stead moments before he netted the winning goal.
Chris Wood was preparing to replace the former Sunderland and Blackburn forward when Leicester equalised and McInnes decided to give Stead a few minutes longer.
He responded by side-footing the ball home after Brett Pitman's shot came off an upright before finally making way for the loan signing from West Brom.
McInnes said: "Steady was flagging a little bit and we felt the ball was not staying up the other end enough.
"He and Brett (Pitman) had really worked their socks off the whole game and we just felt we needed that little bit more energy and freshness in the other half.
"Thankfully, Chris took his time getting ready and Steady was able to stay on long enough to score the winner."
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