Chris Hughton is ready to shield Josh Murphy from the growing hype after his sparkling full senior Norwich City debut.

Murphy carved out an equaliser for Robert Snodgrass in the FA Cup third round draw against Fulham and was a constant menace until he made way for twin Jacob to make his first team bow. Hughton has blooded Josh from the bench in the Premier League over recent weeks, but the City boss is not poised to fast-track him into his starting line up.

'He is still 18 years of age. We must remember that and you always want to protect them from any sort of hype,' said Hughton. 'I think we have done it quite well with him and all the younger players so far. You don't want to convey the impression that perhaps they are ready for when they are not. With Josh you have to remember this is only the first season he has been involved training on a regular basis, but we are hopeful there is more to come from both him and his brother.

'What he has done is that on his full debut he has played very well. He has used the experience of this season and training with the first team and coming into the group to help him enormously but we know he is a prospect. The same as Jacob. They are very much part of the first team squad.'

Hughton realises he possesses two potential game-changers with both likely to be involved again in the Craven Cottage FA Cup replay next week.

'It will also depend where we are at that moment in terms of injuries but it is an opportunity for them, yes,' he said. 'If you look at Josh he certainly grabbed his opportunity (against Fulham) and if you look at his brother coming on at the end that will certainly be great experience for him. It is very, very good for their development.

'They're both exciting players. They're very offensive and attacking players that can create things. Josh has been a little bit more involved than Jacob and he's benefited from the experience he's had with the first-team this season and coming on as a substitute on a few occasions.

'They know that it is about doing it on the bigger occasions, but Josh will get better for that. I thought he was excellent.'