There was a rather familiar name on the Charlton Athletic team-sheet for their FA Cup replay with Oxford United earlier this week, with midfielder Diego Poyet involved for the first time.
Son of Sunderland boss Gus and a former England U16 captain, Poyet junior was named as a substitute by Addicks boss Chris Powell before coming on in the last ten minutes for his first taste of senior football.
It was a winning start too, as Charlton comfortably saw off their League Two opponents with a 3-0 victory to set up a Fourth Round trip to Huddersfield Town at the weekend.
Huddersfield Town v Charlton Athletic
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Fourth Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 25 January
John Smith's Stadium
Winners receive £90,000
And Powell admits 18-year-old Poyet has every chance of being involved again, having impressed everyone at the club during his rise through the youth ranks at the Valley.
“Diego is a player that has caught my eye, definitely since last season when he stepped up into the Under-21s,” revealed Powell.
“He’s a good user of the ball, a good passer and tackler and looks forward when he can.
“He’s a player that I feel has a good career ahead of him and we want it to be here with us so it’s good to give him a taster of what it’s like.
“I just wished him well when he went on and told him that it’s the start of your professional first team career, so let’s hope it’s the first of many.”
Poyet is likely to be involved again as a substitute when the Addicks head to West Yorkshire for the next round on Saturday.
And Powell is under no illusions as to how tough the tie against their Championship rivals at the John Smith’s Stadium is likely to be.
“We have to be professional, as we’re playing a side who have spent money,” he added.
“They’ve bought Nahki Wells and just bought another player this week, so we know we have to be right.
“I like to bring younger players so they can get a taste of it and it’s good for them to experience travelling and see how we prepare.
Poyet in action for England U16s in 2010.
“We’ll prepare for it in the right way, and Diego will definitely travel.”
After Diego's debut on Tuesday, the week got even better for the Poyet family 24 hours later when Gus’s Sunderland side clinched a trip to Wembley in the League Cup with their semi-final win over Manchester United.
And Powell admits he’s been in close cohorts with the former Chelsea and Spurs midfielder about the development of his son.
“I played against him a few times for Charlton when he was at Spurs and it’s funny now that we’re both managing,” revealed Powell.
“We speak and obviously he’s got his hands full up at Sunderland like I have here, but we can empathise with one another.
“He’s a dad with regards to Diego, he cares and I obviously tell him how things are going, I wish him well and I’m sure he wishes Diego well.”
