Paul Walker was praised by Northampton Town manager Ian Sampson after an injury to Chris Dunn in training saw the youngster start against Coventry City.
Wendesday's friendly was the Wales under-17 international goalkeeper's first start for the Cobblers, but he showed few signs of inexperience in the 1-0 defeat.
"He did everything that we asked of him and it's not easy because that's his first team debut," said Sampson.
"He coped OK, I don't think the goal was his fault as it was slack marking and going to sleep by older and more experienced players than him.
"He commanded his box well, he wasn't shy to come out and when he made a decision at the end he cleaned the centre forward out. We ask him to positive and he is progressing quite nicely."
First choice stopper Dunn looks set to be out for at least ten days after injuring his ankle in training, and if he is not fit for the start of the season then Sampson admitted he may look to the loan market rather than play Walker.
That could see Jason Steele return to the Cobblers after his impressive spell at the end of last season, although any deal would be a short term one.
Sampson said: "He'll be one we're looking at, but fingers crossed Chris will have recovered in ten days. If he doesn't, Jason will be one of them but we'll have to see what the situation is at Middlesbrough first.
"For the time being Paul will play in the friendlies that we've got because Chris is injured.
"As it gets closer to the season we might have to look somewhere else for a bit more experience. He'll be nervous because it was his first time out there and he coped with it."
Sampson is also hoping to tie trialist Marcus Hall down to a contract after the veteran full back impressed in his pre-season outings for the Cobblers.
He said: "We'll just keep looking at him. He's in the place now and hopefully if everything works out then we can get him tied down.
"At the moment he's on trial. I've got people ringing me up about left backs, but he's in the box seat at the moment."
The manager's search for a striker to bring in on loan has taken a back seat as the Cobblers continue to experiment with a 4-3-3 formation that sees them utilising a lone forward with two wingers.
Transfer listed striker Steve Guinan was the man entrusted with that role on Wednesday, and Sampson has been impressed with his attitude since the team returned to training.
He said: "I can't praise Steve Guinan highly enough. He's looked after himself ever so well, he's come back bright and I thought he led the line quite well.
"It's difficult when you're up there on your own and he's done everything that he needs to do.
"We've put that on the back burned a bit because we've got four here and we've been looking at the system with one up front.
"We're still searching, but the targets we've had we've been knocked back on. We'll keep looking and trying to get the right one."
