Fulham youngster Luc de Fougerolles loved his experience of first-team football during the Premier League Summer Series – admitting that his starring role during the pre-season tour of America came as something of a surprise.

The teenager, who caught the eye with a series of composed displays against Brentford, Aston Villa and Chelsea, told FFCTV of his pride at seizing his unexpected opportunity:

“It was amazing just to get away, play football, training and matches – obviously happy to get some minutes. I wasn’t expecting very much going into it. I was just happy to be going and experience being in and around the first team. When I came on against Brentford, I was very happy and then went on from there. The first team lads helped me a lot in training before we went out, having Diop and Kenny Tete were helping me during matches, getting me up with the line, telling me to check my shoulders and telling me [about] any runs in behind. That was really helpful for me.

It was nice hearing the manager say me and telling me to get warmed up against Brentford. I wasn’t really sure if I was coming on, I was just getting warmed up just to be ready. When he called me over and started telling me the set pieces, I started to get a bit nervous but obviously when you’re on the pitch, it is another football game, you know it and you love it. I just wanted to do well, when you get on the pitch you forget about everything and it is focusing on getting your first few passes right and getting into the game. When you’re comfortable, you can start expressing yourself a bit more on the ball and tasking more risks.

As a right back or a centre back – or wherever I play – I like to step inside with the ball. I don’t really think about who I’m playing, it is just my game and that’s what I do when I play. I took that from academy level into the first team which was really good. I worked very hard last season with football and gym work. A lot of work has gone into it and I’m getting my rewards I guess.”