BLACKBURN Rovers youngster Willem Tomlinson admits his debut against Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round last weekend was ‘the proudest moment’ of his life.

The midfielder came off the bench in the second half of the 2-1 defeat to Jose Mourinho’s side in what proved to be Owen Coyle’s final game in charge of Rovers.

The 19-year-old has been a regular in the Rovers development squad this season and admitted he was nervous before taking to the Ewood Park pitch for his senior bow.

“It was probably the proudest moment of my life,” said Tomlinson.

“When the gaffer told me to warm up and said I was coming on, obviously then I was dead nervous and the feeling coming on was probably the best feeling I’ve ever had. All the fans and the turn out, it was probably the best feeling of my life.

“But as soon as you get on the pitch you block out all the fans and the big occasion. I blocked it out and there was no pressure on me, because we were 2-1 down, so it felt like I could go on and just be myself.”

The teenager was not overawed by the occasion as he made a memorable tackle on United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and stuck to his task in midfield against the likes of Paul Pogba.

Tomlinson made three appearances for Rovers in the Checkatrade Trophy this season before his appearance against United.

And the midfielder, speaking to Rovers’ website, felt he settled well into the big-game environment against the Red Devils.

He added: “Once you get that first pass out of the way, as long as you don’t give it away, then you start getting into the game and I don’t think I gave the ball away.

“I was quite safe, but it was good to be composed and just play my own game.

“Just making my debut, in such a big game as well, against one of the best teams in the world, with some of the best players, chasing down Pogba and Zlatan on my first game. It was unbelievable.

“I will remember this for the rest of my life, my debut against Man United. There’s not many better games you can make your debut.”