Harry Burgoyne has revealed his pride at making his debut in the nets for Wolves – but says he won’t be getting carried away.
With Carl Ikeme and Andy Lonergan both ruled out through injury, Burgoyne was given the nod by Paul Lambert on Saturday ahead of Jon Flatt as he has enjoyed more football at Under-23 level this season whilst Flatt has been either on the bench or ‘number three’ for the first team.
Burgoyne responded with an impressive display, in which he could have done nothing about the goals conceded in the 4-4 draw, but produced an excellent double save at 3-1 down to keep Wolves in the game.
“I really enjoyed it,” said the 19-year-old Academy graduate.
“I thought it could have gone two ways – either shy away from it or thrive off it.
“So I just took it, really enjoyed it, the first kick was good, up the line, so I thought let's move on from that and it just went from there really.
“I'm proud and happy that it's done and it's happened.
“But it's only the start.
“I just want to go on and be a long-term player at the club.
“I won't get carried away with it and just keep my feet on the ground and keep working hard.”
Burgoyne had been told to report for potentially being in the squad given the injuries elsewhere, but didn’t find out until about 90 minutes before kick off that he was to start.
Nervous? Impossible not to be! But the Ludlow gloveman was able to quickly settle, thanks to some great support from the South Bank as he took his position between the sticks.
“I was just under the understanding to report as if you're going to play,” he says.
“You've got to prepare even if you're not playing the same way you do if you're on the bench.
“You never know what's going to happen.
“Lonners wasn't fit to play so it was my chance.
“That (fans’ support) really meant a lot.
“I've obviously been at the club quite a long time and they've heard of my name in the younger age groups.
“It felt nice running to the South Bank knowing they were behind me.
“But yes there were a few nerves! I'm not usually one to get nervous but yeah there were nerves to start off with.
“I just thrived off it and enjoyed it throughout the game.
“You could say it's tough to deal with that three have gone in the top corners but I just thought the best I can do now is make sure none go in so we've got the best chance of winning.
“I made a couple of decent saves in the second half and we got the result in the end, so it's a massive thing.”
On that double save, he added: “I was really pleased with the fact Danny gave me a tap on the shoulder and it felt like I'd got him behind me as well and the whole team.
“For the lads to go up and make it a level game, it was a good feeling.
“Being 3-1 down, if someone was to say at half time you're going to draw 4-4 I think we probably would have taken it.
“It showed great character from us to get a point out of the game.”
Just five days before the game Burgoyne had been the penalty hero in the Checkatrade Trophy win against Sunderland, and he admits that previous Molineux experience gave him some help ahead of his senior debut.
“It helped a little bit playing at the big stadium,” he says.
“The fact all the fans were there and it's noisy, your communication isn't heard as much so there's a lot of difference but the game on Monday really did help me.
“I came out of that with a lot of confidence.”
Now it is wait and see in terms of whether Burgoyne is involved again at Cardiff tomorrow.
“All of us goalkeepers at the club - we're all trying to play,” he says.
“That'll be the aim, just try and impress in training and see what happens.”
