Lucien Mahovo, the promising 19-year-old defender for Norwich City, has expressed his delight following his first start for the club in their resounding 5-1 victory over Swansea City on Saturday. Having spent the previous season on loan at Boston United in the National League North, Mahovo had previously made substitute appearances for the Canaries against Sheffield United and Leeds United.
Stepping onto the pitch at Carrow Road as part of the starting XI, Mahovo played 65 minutes in the left-back position. Despite feeling "nervous" in the lead-up to the match, he was elated to have contributed to his team's success. “It's been a nervous one [this week]," he shared with BBC Radio Norfolk. "After the Leeds game I could definitely feel the nerves because I knew I had the opportunity to start, but there's no point fighting it - I've just embraced it and I think I've performed well."
Reflecting on his journey to Norwich, which began in July 2024, Mahovo noted the rapid transition to the Championship and the electrifying atmosphere of playing before larger crowds. "It's quick and you get a lot more adrenaline playing in front of 30,000 compared to five or 10 [thousand]," he remarked, underscoring the stark contrast between the Championship and the lower leagues.
Looking ahead, Mahovo is keen to build on this initial opportunity and secure more starting positions. "It's not just this one performance, I've got to keep building on it. It's got to be two, three, four and then make it a consistent thing," he emphasised, signalling his ambition to establish himself within the squad.
For fans eager to delve deeper into Mahovo's experience, his full post-match interview is available on BBC Sounds, where he further discusses his aspirations and reflections from the match.