Callum Doyle passed his opening day test against Wigan Athletic with flying colours, according to Lee Johnson - with the Sunderland boss hailing the teenager's passing as 'the best in the division'.
On-loan Manchester City defender Doyle is only 17 years old and Sunderland's 2-1 win against the Latics at the Stadium of Light on Saturday was his senior debut.
But he turned in an outstanding display at centre-back partnering Tom Flanagan, and Johnson was full of praise for his summer capture.
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"I think it was a big test for him on Saturday," said Johnson.
"He passed one test the previous week when he was up against the physicality of Josh Magennis in the friendly against Hull, and Saturday was always going to be a bigger test.
"You're never sure how these lads are going to react - the legs can turn to jelly, they can get a little elbow and suddenly they crumble.
"But Callum grew in stature as the game went on and his passing ability is already, in my opinion, the best in the division.
"Even today he didn't get as many line-cutting passes as he normally would, but you saw two or three diags that were weighty and full of quality.
We had that little spell in the first half from about 20 minutes on where we were playing some really nice stuff, and it started from him.
"Wigan then adjusted it to stop him coming out and Charlie Wyke allowed Flanno [Flanagan] to have the ball instead, but we still managed to have our passing routines."
Sunderland take on Port Vale tonight at Vale Park in the first round of the EFL Cup, and Johnson must decide whether to make changes at the heart of defence or stick with the pairing that played against Wigan.
If he does make changes, he could turn to Bailey Wright - who has recently recovered from a groin problem and came on as a late substitute against the Latics - or youngster Ollie Younger.
