The 18-year-old, who signed on with the club’s youth team last season, played out the full 90 minutes on the right wing in City’s 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners in front of 8000 fans, just days after Tim Cahill’s departure.

Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce joined match day commentatiors that were impressed by the Young Socceroos’ eye-catching run and aggression in moving forward throughout the match.

“I thought he did well. I thought he took his opportunity well. He’s one that caught my eye as soon as I came to the club really,” Joyce said post-match.

“He’s been away with the Young Socceroos and missed a lot of training. In pre-season, he worked his socks off, showed a good attitude and showed that he can handle the football as well.

“It’s only one game. It’s a big ask but he’s done really well tonight. It doesn’t surprise me but he’s made the most of his opportunity.

“Sometimes you don’t know how he’s going to react to a crowd and handle the pressure of this football club to win games. I thought he took it in his stride.”

Joyce said, following the ex-Riverside High School student’s performance, he would play more teenagers that have earned the right.

“The kids have to grasp the opportunity and make sure they’re ready for it in every way, mentally, physically and tactically, they can handle it all,” he said.

“There’s a pretty good guide usually if the training is competitive and you’re doing it on a daily basis, you’re more confident that you’ll see it on a Saturday and that’s what happened with Nathaniel.

“It’s unfortunate, at the start of the season, he played in a behind-closed-doors game and did well, then he’s away and we lose him from developing him really.”