Djeny relishes his taste of big time

INSTANT IMPACT . . . Djeny Bembo-Leta made the most of his chance at Scunthorpe.

DJENY Bembo-Leta was beaming after netting his first goal in senior football.

The 18-year-old was brought into the Athletic side to face Scunthorpe in Tuesday’s Carling Cup-tie after manager Paul Dickov lost the services of forward pair Warren Feeney and Oumare Tounkara to international duty and a tight hamstring.

It was the Congo-born prospect's debut start in the first team.

And it came about thanks in no small part to the player's own decision to switch positions from midfield to striker midway through last season, as he felt it was the best way of landing the professional deal which materialised following a series of good displays for the reserves.

"I started as a striker and we tried changing my position to midfield, so I can play there, but I feel my best position is up front" said Bembo-Leta, known as 'DJ' and an Ashton-under-Lyne resident who signed a two-year pro deal at the end of April.

"The gaffer talks to me a lot about movement, as he is small like me. He helps me a lot in training and has given me loads of confidence and belief."

Tracked by Chelsea three years ago, Bembo-Leta — who holds a British passport — showed flashes of what he is capable of at Glanford Park.

A player with pace and an impeccable first touch, the youngster partnered rookie Dean Kelly up front and, despite the attentions of a tall back line, managed to sneak in to plant a header past goalkeeper Sam Slocombe to give Athletic the lead in the first half of the cup-tie.

"It was a great ball in from Kieran Lee and I just managed to get myself in the right position," said Bembo-Leta, who first joined Athletic's centre of excellence in the summer of 2006.

"I am small compared to their centre-backs so I was just trying to get in behind them.

"I was really pleased with the goal and was trying to run away after it, but the boys wouldn't let me go! I was really, really happy.

"It is a lot different to reserve-team football. It is much quicker and you have to play two-touch and one-touch or else you get caught.

"A few more games and I will get my confidence up and hopefully score a few more goals."