When it comes to being 17 and making your debut, Tony Cottee is something of an expert.

On 1 January 1983, the teenaged Cottee made his debut at home to Tottenham Hotspur and promptly scored in a 3-0 victory. It set him on the path to a fantastic career, including 146 goals in 336 games over two spells in the claret and blue.

Back at Chadwell Heath this week, Cottee was prompted to recall his Boleyn bow with everyone still buzzing about Dan Potts making his debut in the 1-0 win against Barnsley at the age of 17. He was drafted into the side at short notice when Abdoulaye Faye limped out of the warm-up.

"It brought back the memories," he told whufc.com. "I only played because Paul Goddard was injured. Where it was also similar was Dan didn't know until about ten minutes to kick-off that he was playing. I was the same, I didn't find out until about an hour and a half before.

"The worst thing would be if you had two weeks and it was building up and everyone was talking about it. When it just goes 'bang' like that, you go out and you put the shirt on and as soon as you cross the white line, you go into professional mode.

"It would have been like playing in a reserve game for Dan but with the crowd. Of course, you are playing with better players but you are up against better players and you have to step your game up to that level.

"Everyone I have spoken to said how well he has done. What would have been good is he didn't have time to get nervous. He probably didn't even have time to ring his dad. It was just 'go and play' and that probably helped."

Cottee said an overriding emotion from his New Year's Day debut was a sense of achievement, having craved such a chance while coming through the ranks.

"It was an incredible feeling to go out there and perform in front of the fans that you have grown up standing alongside and to play with the players you used to watch.

"He will have grown up with the club. Two or three years ago, Dan would have been watching Mark Noble play and I couldn't believe I was on the same pitch as people like Phil Parkes, Ray Stewart and Alvin Martin.

"All of a sudden you are playing with those players and the hard part is to take it all in. I am absolutely delighted for him and know how he will be feeling this week."

Cottee is still good friends with Potts dad Steve, another former team-mate, and was particularly delighted for the family because of the youngster having overcome leukaemia in his early teens.

"I text Pottsy and said 'Well done, you must be so proud'. As a dad there can't be anything better than watching the son play for the club you played for.

"It is a fulfilment of an ambition. When you start out in football as a five, six or seven-year-old you want to play in the first team.

"It was a fulfilment but once you have had a taste, you have the bug and you want to establish yourself as a player first and foremost.

"Once I had established myself, I wanted to be top scorer, then you want to play for England and you keep setting new goals."

Cottee achieved much for club and country but said it was important for Potts to keep his feet on the ground.

"The most important thing is to not think you have made it. Don't think 'I am a big superstar' and go out and buy a flash car. But the great thing for Dan is his dad is one of the most level-headed people you will ever come across and will help him keep his feet on the floor.

"It is great for the family and i am so pleased, bearing in mind the problems he has had as well. It is fantastic."