Adam Idah will trust Norwich City’s judgement if he does go out on loan this month but the FA Cup hat-trick hero hopes he proved his first-team potential at Preston.

Injuries brought the 18-year-old striker his second senior start and he well and truly grabbed his chance, becoming the youngest player to ever score a hat-trick for the Canaries.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international was expected to get his first taste of loan action in League One, with Doncaster Rovers linked.

However, with Teemu Pukki (hamstring and toe), Josip Drmic (hamstring) and Dennis Srbeny (back) missing the 4-2 victory in the third round, Idah could well be involved again when City head to Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday.

"It's up in the air at the moment, I don't know what's happening," he admitted. "If I go on loan, I go on loan, it's going to help me in my development."

The youngster signed a long-term contract and graduated to the first team in the summer - and although he's had to be patient, is pleased with his progress.

He continued: "I think I've improved a lot, just on the pitch a lot more physically and even my movement, watching Teemu Pukki is unbelievable.

"But even off the pitch you mature a lot from being with all of those players, so it's been great."

MORE: Idah 'over the moon' after becoming City's youngest EVER hat-trick scorer

Part of that development was learning from a difficult debut in August, with the decisive goal deflecting in off him as he played all of a shock 1-0 loss away to League Two side Crawley in the League Cup second round.

"It was difficult," he reflected. "I was a bit unfortunate with the goal, but I think that's what happens in football, you just have to put it past you and the boss and everybody was really good to me, to be fair.

"They said to just brush that aside, come out here, forget about it and go again."

The speedy striker was signed from College Corinthians in 2017 and has been prolific at youth levels for City and Ireland.

Now his senior career has lift-off though, adding: "It is a dream come true, obviously I wasn't expecting to score a hat-trick but coming over two and a half years ago, I did not expect this.

"But it's all down to putting in the hard work really, it shows the boss will put you in - so just delighted."