Rob Edwards is delighted by Sverre Nypan's early impact at Middlesbrough, but admits there is part protection, part longer-term thinking behind why the Norwegian is yet to start.
The Man City loaned has so far proven exactly why he's been given the wonderkid tag in his three substitute appearances for Boro so far. Despite being only 18 and playing in England for the first time, he's shown no signs of struggling to adapt so far.
He shone again from the bench on Saturday at Preston North End as he came on and made a pivotal impact when producing a bit of magic to beat his man in the build up to Boro's first equaliser. Edwards is delighted that he continues to contribute even when not starting.
“Brilliant impact from him again," the Boro boss said. "It’s hard with the international duty because they go away for a couple of weeks. We were otherwise able to work with a pretty big group during the break. We felt with how aggressive they are and the fact that they’re a big team - pretty large individuals! - and physical too, he might be more suited to an impact role in this one.
"From the start, when they’re at it, and they’re coming down the line a bit, you could see it first half, it was difficult to find the rhythm. We said to him yesterday before training, ‘You and David [Strelec] could come on and win us the game when it starts to open up a bit more’. All right, we didn’t win it, but we got something from it and they both made an impact, which was good."
Nypan has been sent to Boro this summer by City to play games and grow his experience in English football after his summer move from Rosenborg. It was a mark of Boro's reputation for developing players that City chose Teesside.
Boro believe, much like Ben Doak last season, that they have a potential game-changer in Nypan - someone who can have a huge impact over the season. While many will be hoping he's thrust into the lineup as soon as possible, Edwards warns Boro have to protect him too.
“He’s a good player," Edwards said. "That’s why a massive club like that have signed him. They do their research, don’t they? They’ve paid a lot of money to bring him to the club, and they have high hopes for him.
"He’s still really young though, so we’ve got to make sure we protect him. This league is physical, it’s hard. So we’ve got to get it right for him because we want him available for all of the games. But he’s already a really good player, and I think he’ll become a top one."
Similar to Nypan, Boro also brought in Abdoulaye Kante this summer - an Ivorian who'd only just turned 20 at the time of his move. Like Nypan in Norway, Kante had many senior appearances in France, but there's still a need for caution as they try to adapt to life in England, on and off the pitch.
Edwards noted: “He and Alpha have settled really well. It’s really early, but they both seem really smiley and happy. When you’re trying to build something new - a culture etc. - and you have so many new players coming in, results help, performances help and we can try and help as much as possible as a group of staff to look after them and try and help them settle.
"It’s a new environment, new country, new food, new language among other things. It’s not always easy and it can take time. Some adjust quicker than others. But they all seem to be pretty happy at the moment, so long may that continue."
On getting beyond the language barrier, he added: “The language side of things can be hard, but thankfully, we’ve not got too many who struggle too much. Alpha is learning and we’re all helping him with that.
"We have one or two French-speaking lads, which helps. But we’ve not got too many now, who aren’t really understanding. Football is a universal language anyway. Once you’re out on that pitch, they can feel it and they understand what we want from them.
"But, especially with the young lads coming in from a different country, we appreciate they could take some time. Alpha had the issue with his groin before the break, so it was nice to have back involved with us again today.”