The roar from the King Power crowd was deafening as Tristan jogged onto the pitch, replacing Lloyd Dyer on the left while Mahrez slotted in on the right.
Almost immediately after the restart, Drinkwater collected the ball in midfield and, following his manager's orders, looked straight for Tristan. A sharp pass zipped toward him, and Tristan took his first touch of the game—a calm, simple layoff back to Drinkwater before moving into space.
"Good first touch," Hewitt observed. "Nothing flashy, just keeping it simple and moving into position."
Derby wasn't going to let him get comfortable.
The next time he received possession, a Derby midfielder rushed him, looking to stamp his authority on the young debutant. But Tristan saw it coming. Just as the opponent lunged in, he nudged the ball past him, turning sharply to leave his marker scrambling.
The crowd let out an appreciative "Ooooh!"
Tristan didn't stop to admire his work. He lifted his head immediately, scanning the pitch. Mahrez was already making a run down the right. Without hesitation, Tristan sliced a diagonal ball straight into his path, threading it between two defenders.
"Oh, that's a lovely ball!" Hewitt called, excitement in his voice. "First real involvement, and Tristan picks out Mahrez perfectly!"
Baines gave a short chuckle. "Well, I'll admit, that's tidy. You notice how he checked his shoulder before receiving the ball? He already knew where Mahrez was before it even arrived at his feet."
Leicester's tempo shifted. With Tristan, Drinkwater, and Matty James in midfield, the Foxes started dictating the play, moving the ball quickly, forcing Derby's defense to stretch. The visitors were struggling to adjust.
Within five minutes of Tristan's introduction, Leicester's possession stats had surged.
"It's a different Leicester now!" Hewitt exclaimed. "More control, more urgency... and Tristan is right at the heart of it!"
Baines, ever the skeptic, exhaled. "It's a good start, I'll give him that. But let's see if he can maintain this level."
Tristan wasn't thinking about maintaining.
He glanced up at the scoreboard. 2-0. Leicester in control.
"Honestly, if you didn't know better, you'd think he came straight out of La Masia," Gary Hewitt remarked, watching Tristan's smooth link-up play.
Chris Baines let out a low chuckle. "Yeah, except instead of Barcelona's academy, he's a kid from Leicester with a point to prove."
From the dugout, Nigel Pearson stood with his arms crossed, eyes tracking Tristan's every movement. A small, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Told you he'd be ready," he murmured to his assistant, Steve Walsh.
Back on the pitch, Tristan received a quick pass from Drinkwater, a Derby midfielder already rushing toward him. Instead of panicking, he took a single touch to control the ball, then, with a quick shift of his weight, turned sharply, sending his marker lunging at thin air.
"Oh, lovely turn from Tristan!" Hewitt called out.
Matty James, recognizing the space opening up, called for it. "Here, Tris!"
Tristan didn't hesitate. He played a crisp one-two, receiving the ball back just outside the penalty area. The stadium buzzed with anticipation.
Don't overthink it. Just play.
With one glance up, he spotted Mahrez making a run toward the left side of the box. The Derby defense was scrambling, but Tristan already knew what he was going to do.
With a smooth, effortless motion, he threaded a pass between two defenders, perfectly weighted, curling just enough to bypass the last man but not too much to overhit it.
"Oh, that is a ridiculous pass!" Baines blurted out, the excitement slipping into his voice.
The ball landed at Mahrez's feet, taking out the entire Derby backline.
"Mahrez!" Hewitt shouted as the winger took a quick touch forward. The goalkeeper rushed out to close the angle, but Mahrez was composed, lifting the ball delicately over him.
The King Power erupted.
"GOOOOAAAL!" Hewitt roared. "Mahrez gets his first in the Championship! And what an assist from Tristan!"
Mahrez wheeled away in celebration, arms outstretched, but he wasn't celebrating alone. Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted straight toward Tristan, grabbing him by the shoulders before pulling him into a hug.
"Tristan, mate, that was magic!" Mahrez grinned, shaking him by the shoulders.
Tristan, breathless but grinning, clapped him on the back. "Congrats on your first goal. More to come, yeah?"
As they jogged back to their positions, the stadium was still buzzing. Fans were chanting, waving scarves, completely swept up in the moment.
"What a statement," Baines said, still watching the replays. "The kid's been on the pitch for ten minutes, and he's already got an assist to his name."
Hewitt chuckled. "Not just an assist—that was a playmaker's pass. He saw that before Mahrez even started his run. This lad's got something about him."
Tristan glanced at the scoreboard, heart still racing. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel·fire·net
As the final whistle echoed through the King Power Stadium, a triumphant roar erupted from the Leicester City faithful. The scoreboard read 3-0, a commanding victory over Derby County. Tristan exhaled, his heartbeat still racing from the adrenaline of his Championship debut.
Not only had he stepped onto the pitch for his first league match, but he had also contributed with an assist. The doubts, the nerves, the weight of expectation—all of it had melted away the moment he felt the ball at his feet. Now, standing on the lush grass with the crowd still cheering, he knew this was just the beginning.
As he walked toward the tunnel, his teammates clapped him on the back, offering words of praise.
"Nice one, mate," Vardy said, flashing him a grin.
"Hell of a debut, kid," Drinkwater added, shaking his head in approval.
Mahrez gave him a knowing smirk. "Told you we'd link up well."
Tristan chuckled, rolling his shoulders as they stepped into the tunnel. The buzz of celebration filled the air, players exchanging jokes and recounting moments from the match as they made their way back to the locker room.
The familiar chime echoed in his mind, distinct from the noise of the stadium.
[Achievement: "First Championship Appearance" Unlocked]
[Reward: One Free Attribute Point]
Tristan's eyes flickered slightly as he absorbed the message. So that's how it works...
He towel-dried his damp hair, barely listening as the post-match debrief began. His mind was already racing.
If just stepping onto the pitch earns me this, what about a goal? What if I get a brace? A hat trick?
He clenched his fists slightly, the competitive fire in him only growing stronger.
And what about the Premier League?
The thought sent a thrill down his spine.
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