Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has heaped praise on Jonathan Panzo after the centre-back made his Reds debut on Saturday.
Forest drew 1-1 with Hull at the MKM Stadium to finish their regular campaign with a share of the spoils.
Panzo came into the team as Cooper chose to make seven changes to the starting eleven ahead of the play-offs.
The 21-year-old started alongside Tobias Figueiredo and Joe Worrall as the Reds played out a dead rubber in East Yorkshire.
Forest added Panzo to their ranks from Dijon in January. The player knows all about Cooper having worked with him for the England under-17s.
After the game, Cooper praised his former World Cup Under-17 winning defender for his debut performance.
He told Nottinghamshire Live: “I thought he did well. Bringing him off was just tactical because we wanted to get wingers and a bit higher width up the pitch, be he did well.
“It was good for him to get his first start. He showed some good bits and grew into the game.
“He should be satisfied with how he did. We are.”
Cooper praises Panzo and he could be set for starring Forest role next season
It does seem unlikely that Panzo will be called upon again this season, with Steve Cook set to return at Sheffield United on Saturday.
Next season could be the big chance he’s craving though. He showcased on Saturday that if he does get the chance he’d be capable of doing a job.
Cooper is brilliant at improving youngsters and Panzo will benefit from that level of coaching.
Panzo will take confidence from this praise from Cooper and he will hope to impress him when he next receives an opportunity.