In the closing moments of their 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, Fulham made history by introducing 16-year-old Harvey Elliott into the game as he became the youngest ever player to appear in a Premier League match.
Despite barely featuring and having no touches of note, his substitution was a brilliant moment for Cottagers fans in a season filled with disappointment.
Since the club’s relegation was confirmed in early April, supporters have been urging Scott Parker to grant Fulham’s youngsters much-needed Premier League experience.
Elliott was one of the players in question, as he had already attracted attention for his role in a League Cup win over Millwall in September as a 15-year-old.
After making the bench for the last few Premier League matches, the midfielder finally got his chance in stoppage time at Molineux, providing a glimpse of the future at Craven Cottage.
Even in a heartbreaking season, Elliott’s historic debut shows there is plenty of light at the end of the tunnel for Fulham, with a promising pipeline of academy graduates ready to perform in the Championship.
