It may have taken a couple more months than seemed likely but I finally made my debut for Charlton last weekend.

It was a great occasion for me, although it was also bittersweet because we were knocked out of the FA Cup by Huddersfield Town.

It looked like I was going to play for the first time in early November when we were leading Cardiff City 5-2 in the closing stages. Then they scored, so the manager Chris Powell waited and then they scored again, so he told me to sit back down on the bench as we clung on.

More waiting was needed on Saturday – it felt like the ball took an age to go out of play while I was standing by the touchline. I also thought it was going to be another one of those days when we went down to 10 men when Dorian Dervite was sent off.

Johnnie Jackson was next to me and about to come on as well, though, and he was encouraging me beforehand, along with the manager.

I didn’t know that I was on the bench until an hour and a half before the game, so it was good feeling to first get in the squad but it was surpassed by coming on and playing. I was just pleased and thankful to get the opportunity.

Of course, the result wasn’t what we wanted because you always want to please the fans and the gaffer and when you don’t do that, it’s disappointing.

But now we have to move on to the next fixture and not get too down because there are some big games ahead for us, starting with Blackpool at home on Saturday. We need to push up the league, so everyone’s focused on that.

I hope to stay involved and if I keep training the way I do and carry on doing the extra work, then who knows.

I’ve gone from playing for the under-18s last season to playing for England Youth, going on loan to Wycombe Wanderers and now making my Charlton debut, so I just want to keep progressing.

The youngsters at the club are a tight-knit group, and everyone’s pleased for
me. A lot of us will be supporting the under-18s when they take on Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup at The Valley next Wednesday night.

That shows the great spirit that there is in the dressing room.