Former West Ham United skipper discusses 17-year-old who made his debut for O’s at Barnet

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient player-manager Kevin Nolan in action against Barnet (pic: Simon O'Connor).Leyton Orient player-manager Kevin Nolan in action against Barnet (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

While Kevin Nolan is now only set to focus on playing for Leyton Orient, last weekend he discussed the importance of managing Josh Koroma.

The 17-year-old replaced the former West Ham United captain at Barnet on Saturday and made his professional debut for the club in the process.

He played the last 23 minutes at the Hive, with Bees leading 3-0, but impressed and showed a glimpse of his potential.

Nolan, who was relived of his managerial duties yesterday, spoke after Saturday about the talented youth coming through at Brisbane Road.

“Josh Koroma has done fantastically well in the under-18s and been scoring lots of goals,” said the 33-year-old at the weekend.

“He has been training with us during the week along with Aron Pollock and a few others, but those two have really blossomed since coming over and being with us.

“That’s why Josh got his chance at Barnet. He got his opportunity and took it. What we’ve got to do is make sure we don’t burn him out.”

A common discussion when a teenager makes an impression on the first team is whether to give him a run of games or continue allowing him to come off the bench.

Even though Nolan will not play a part now in whether Koroma starts against Dagenham & Redbridge, he warned not to set the youngster back in his development.

Many supporters suggested that playing some of the youth for the final five matches of the League Two campaign would be beneficial.

But Nolan, speaking after Saturday, added: “We have to make sure we don’t do the wrong things with Josh.

“As quickly as he comes on and does well because there is no fear at Barnet, in two or three games if we are still in the difficult situation it might then start to affect him.

“That could put him back six months so we’ve got to be careful, but I’m confident about the good group of boys we have got coming through.

“They will get chances here and I’ve given a lot of the squad opportunities over the past few weeks and we haven’t produced.”