Cardiff’s Noah Anyadike becomes youngest player in EFL Cup history

“He’s making exceptional strides, and he’s a very talented player. We were very clear that he was the best option for this game based on how well he’s done.”

Anyadike is the third player in under 12 months to become Cardiff’s youngest player, following Rob Tankiewicz (16 years and 117 days) and Axel Donczew (15 years and 234 days).

But the young defender from Carmarthenshire is not the youngest player in English Football League history.

That honour is still held by Reuben Noble-Lazarus – Barry-Murphy’s former Rochdale team-mate – who debuted aged 15 years and 45 days in 2008.

Barry-Murphy, who spent time as Manchester City’s youth team boss, understands the role Cardiff have in developing Anyadike as a person and a footballer.

“I think [we] just [have] to expose him to the level of challenge that he’s capable of playing and pushing really,” he added.

“As you saw, he’s very big for his age. He can play at a very high level, so we just have to keep pushing him to make sure that he keeps getting the exposures and the level of challenge he needs.

“And keep educating him on the parts of his game that he needs to improve because he’s so young.