Jaden Warner has been patiently waiting for his big Norwich City opportunity - but even he wouldn't have expected the circumstances in which it arrived.
After shining against Fulham in the Carabao Cup at the end of September, he has been absent from Championship matchday squads in recent weeks as more senior options in Ben Gibson, Shane Duffy and Danny Batth were favoured ahead of him.
With David Wagner looking for inspiration amid a desperate run of form - Warner was handed a start. That was going to come with or without Gibson suffering a stress fracture in training towards the end of the week.
After a catalogue of defensive errors, there was an inevitability about a refresh in those central positions coming.
Despite the carnage that unfolded at Carrow Road on Sunday lunchtime, Warner was one of the few positives to cling desperately to for a fanbase that is increasingly turning apathetic at the state of the club on and off the pitch.
Warner has been largely unaffected by the trials and tribulations of recent week. There was a rare sighting of confidence in how he played a clever pass to Gabby Sara to break a press inside the opening five minutes.
He was robust, keen to defend and mature in a lot of his actions on the pitch - even in spite of a real lack of support from his senior colleague to his left side.
There was a goal-saving tackle at 2-0 down when Sammie Szmodics had galloped through City's defensive shape but was often left isolated - as was the case when Blackburn netted their second goal.
Wagner described it as a 'brave' decision to expose Warner to the situation - but bolder was keeping Shane Duffy in the side after a host of errors in recent weeks. Had Gibson not succumbed to injury, it would have been him partnering the youngster.
As all of this unfolds, Deadline Day addition Danny Batth was handed a watching brief throughout - even as Kenny McLean dropped back to partner Warner for the final stages of the encounter.
The fact Warner has now seemingly leapfrogged him, coupled with Grant Hanley being in the final stages of his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury, will not help his cause. Duffy's yellow card will see him suspended for next week's trip to Cardiff - that may present Batth with a chance to start.
But Norwich's central defenders are being exposed by the system, and the system is exposing them.
It is a fatal combination that has led to 30 goals conceded in just 15 Championship matches - more than any side in the division and at a rate of two a game.
Fixing those structural issues is of paramount importance if Norwich are to get out of this rut that they find themselves trapped within.
Warner won't be able to do that alone - but he wasn't culpable for the carnage that ensued in the opening 15 minutes of Sunday's defeat.
The young defender should now be handed a run in the side to try and put some form together in a side in desperate need of inspiration.
Warner was brought to Norwich via the club's satellite programme in London, set up ironically by Blackburn's director of football Gregg Broughton - who was watching on in the directors' box as his side dismantled his old employers.
At 21, Warner has a bright future ahead of him. It is remarkable that it has taken until this point for his first league appearance at any level - whether at Norwich or out on loan.
More senior professionals have blocked his pathway, but with Gibson sidelined, Batth seemingly not fancied and Duffy out of form - it should now his opportunity to grasp with both hands.
Norwich's strategy in the best times has been centred on youth and graduating - if that is to be at the heart of what incoming sporting director Ben Knapper wants to lead, then Warner has a role to play.
VERDICT: Blameless on his full Championship debut. A couple of important interventions to deny goal-scoring opportunities from Blackburn. Composed in possession but isolated by his senior partner Shane Duffy on a consistent basis.
RATING: 6 out of 10
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