'We don't give out Portsmouth games willy-nilly': Why the time was right to blood Blues' latest Academy starlet

For Leyton Orient would signal an entrance as Pompey’s newest first-teamer – at the age of 17 years, six months and 26 days.

And John Mousinho is adamant the breakthrough was thoroughly deserved, having impressed Academy management this term.

The second-year scholar and former Crystal Palace under-16 striker was handed the final five minutes off the bench in Tuesday night’s 2-1 Bristol Street Motors Trophy victory.

It represents encouraging progress for Folarin, who has recently received a call-up from the Republic of Ireland under-18s.

And, for Mousinho, the first-team introduction was fully warranted.

He told The News: ‘Christian Saydee was tired, he had put in such a shift, probably we’d have liked to have brought him off a bit sooner because of some of the injuries he’s had in the past.