MK Dons ended their recent Checkatrade Trophy tie against Norwich City with every single outfield player either an Academy graduate or player.
Among those 10 were first-year pro Callum Brittain and second-year scholar Finn Tapp, who both came off the bench in the second half to make their senior debuts for the Football Club.
“It’s a very special feeling,” Brittain told MK Dons PlayerHD afterwards. “Especially to come to a place like this against a team who were in the Premier League last year.
“There were a lot of good players out there and it was a good challenge. I’m glad this moment has come.”
Tapp added: “It’s the biggest achievement of my football career so far. I’m thankful for the opportunity given to me by the first-team staff.”
“It’s a very special feeling,” Brittain told MK Dons PlayerHD afterwards. “Especially to come to a place like this against a team who were in the Premier League last year.
“There were a lot of good players out there and it was a good challenge. I’m glad this moment has come.”
Tapp added: “It’s the biggest achievement of my football career so far. I’m thankful for the opportunity given to me by the first-team staff.”
“It’s definitely a step up at this level in terms of fitness and quality but it was a good challenge.”
“I came up against Josh Murphy for a bit which was an unbelievable challenge considering he was playing and starting for us in the Championship last year.
Brittain was brought on just two minutes after Tapp’s goal and while he didn’t get on the scoresheet, the right-back still thoroughly enjoyed his time on the pitch, testing himself against tough opposition including a former club mate in Josh Murphy.
“This has been the best birthday present so far.”
“I knew when I came on I had to do my bit. When we got the free-kick, I told myself that I needed to get on any loose balls and I ended up smashing one in the back of the net.”
“I wanted to do them proud and do myself justice when I came on. I never thought I’d get a goal to go with it – it’s a special night for me.
After Norwich goalkeeper Ben Killip denied George B Williams’ header with a terrific save, the loose ball fell kindly for Tapp, forward from the back, and he didn’t hesitate in leathering it into the roof of the net – capping off an already memorable evening for the scholar, who was on the eve of his 17th birthday.
Tapp was the first of the pair introduced, coming on alongside fellow defender Oran Jackson in the 76th minute, however if he thought that was going to be the highlight of the night for him he was to be proved wrong just eight minutes later.
“When I can get on the pitch again, I’ve just got to try and do what I can to impress."
The defender, though, is just pleased to be back playing and now hopes to improve on the training pitch, while also impress whenever he gets another opportunity.
Tuesday evening was a long time coming for Brittain who, because of injury, was forced to watch on as many of his teammates featured for the first-team in many of the early cup fixtures.
