Frank Nouble was able to call upon some expert advice before his full West Ham United debut against Arsenal.
The young striker was joined by Carlton Cole, who had come in especially to offer some tips to his young team-mate.
"Carlton came in before the game and at half time to talk to me and to say just keep on your toes and your chance will come. I had a few sniffs in the second half and maybe with a bit more composure I would have hit the target and had more of a chance to score.
"I am still only 18 but with a couple of years of playing in the Premier League I can become the player I want to become."
Nouble, who only turned 18 in September, took on the lone striker role with a maturity that belied his young age. The England Under-19 international gave Arsenal's experienced centre-back pairing of William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen some tricky moments with his pace and strength.
"He said I just need to try and use my body. Physically I have worked hard on my body and I feel strong and hopefully I can use that as a lone striker.
"Defenders don't like pace much either and I feel I've got that so hopefully I can keep working on that in the games."
Such was the impact Nouble made on Gallas that the French international chose to hand him his shirt after the game.
"I always thought before the game, whose shirt would I like? Gallas is a World Cup winner and had a good career and is in the form of his life right now.
"During the game I turned him once and he was complaining about something so I just asked for his shirt and he started smiling! It was a good experience to play against someone like that."
Nouble has already scored three goals in eight reserve games this season and now, buoyed by his first start, will be looking to transfer that form to the first team.
"I feel more like part of the team and the players can trust me a bit more now in training and the games. The manager can trust me a bit more now, be it in training or the games and the manager knows he can trust me mentally and that I will work for the team."