SAM Mantom has thanked Steven Reid for taking him under his wing on his senior Albion debut in last night's 2-0 Carling Cup win at Leyton Orient.

The 18-year-old partnered the former Republic of Ireland international in central midfield and impressed on his Baggies bow.

Mantom admitted he was shocked to discover on Monday he would be playing at Brisbane Road - but took Roberto Di Matteo's advice to go out and enjoy it.

"It gave me a real buzz to be on the pitch and I wanted to keep playing but I don't think my legs would have carried me any further," said the 18-year-old.

"I was only told on Monday.

"I had only had four days training and I was just hoping to train with the first team, never mind look forward to a game.

"The gaffer just told me to be calm and stay composed on the ball.

"And he told me the main thing was just to enjoy it.

"It was great.

"Reidy is a great professional who has so much experience and it was just great to be out there with him and passing the ball to him.

"He really helped me out there."

Mantom believes his loan spell at newly-promoted Iceland outfit Haukar in the summer has proved invaluable in capturing Di Matteo's attention.

"I really miss Iceland to be honest because I made a lot of friends over there," he added.

"The standard of football was similar to how it was last night so that shows how physically tiring it was.

"But it teaches you to keep going.

"I think I have developed my strength as well because last year the coaching staff said I had got to get a bit stronger to compete at this level.

"So over the summer I went to Iceland and that really helped me along.

"I thought I did well in pre-season and I was involved in all of it.

"But an injury killed me because I had four weeks out and at the time I was really pushing for a start at Doncaster in the pre-season friendly.

"That was a real setback for me and it made me think how football can be cruel to you.

"I have to keep doing well in training first and foremost and keep impressing the gaffer if I want him to pick me ahead of these senior pros.

"Hopefully last night has done me a bit of good and I will just keep working hard in training to show what I can do.

"This season I have been involved with the first team virtually every day, which has been great.

"Last year I was attending the matches and looking up to them and wondering if I would ever get a chance to play.

"It it's just great to be able to pass the ball to them and talk to them and become friends with them."

The Stourbridge-born player, who went to Summerhill School, is delighted to be following in the footsteps of fellow youth product and good friend Chris Wood.

And he has enjoyed every minute of his time at The Hawthorns since moving from Walsall at the age of 12.

"I signed for the under-12s and have come all the way through the ranks," said Mantom.

"Playing in the first team was always the aim.

"I joined in the under-12s when we were still training on artificial pitches out in the snow and there was no dome like we've got now.

"Now the new training ground and facilities have been built up it gives us the surroundings to be able to kick on.

"The whole youth team look up to Chris Wood and they all think they have to try to get where he has got.

"Keith Downing is now talking a lot to me and Woodsy, and players like us, pushing for the first team now - and that just gets everyone motivated in training and striving for something."