Coventry City defeated Sunderland 3-1 on Saturday and once again fans were left marvelling at Stephen Mfuni's potential

There was a moment in Stephen Mfuni’s outstanding performance for Coventry City on Saturday that stood out above all others.

With the Sky Blues winning 3-1 but Sunderland’s sails, which had remained limp for an hour, starting to fill, the 18-year-old defender threw himself in the way of a shot that would surely have reduced the deficit to a goal.

Luke O’Nien, who has now lost to City in all four divisions, unleashed a ferocious drive that Mfuni blocked with his head. Pole-axed there were a few seconds of concern but the Manchester City loanee soon jumped to his feet to face the resulting corner.

As courageous as that was, it was two other moments which stood out for me, two moments which highlight the silk and the steel in his game.

The first came in the opening exchanges, with the Sky Blues attacking the North Stand, when he picked up possession midway through his own half.

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Not for a second was there a thought about laying the ball into midfield, instead he looked up, saw space, surged up-field and tried to thread a pass between the centre back and left back for Tatsuhiro Sakamoto to run on to.

The pass was intercepted but the ambition and intent was clear. This week Coventry City were here to pass forward and their teenage centre back was willing to take responsibility.

The second incident came in the second half, shortly after the block on O’Nien’s shot.

Sunderland were on the front foot and knew a second goal could really send the jitters around the CBS Arena.

Attacking down their left Mfuni was drawn out to the touchline where you often fear for central defenders, isolated against faster, more nimble wingers.

Mfuni showed no such reticence and slid in taking not only the ball but most of his man, slamming the door shut. Only the three goals were cheered more loudly that this show of defiance.

“I thought Steph was great,” Frank Lampard said. “We brought him in to play maybe left side centre half, maybe at left back, he's very comfortable in both, and now he's playing the right side centre half – and he was immaculate in his game.”

Often loan players arrive with buy-in that can best be described as negotiable, teenage loan players even more so. If there’s a sliding scale teenage loan defenders might be the biggest risk of all.

Yet after only two starts and just over three hours of Premier League football, the feeling is growing that for all the dependability of Bobby Thomas and pedigree of Aurele Amenda, the Sky Blues are a better team with Mfuni in it.

It feels like we are witnessing the beginning of a very special career.

“He's come in with a real sense of confidence on and off the pitch, a real nice way about him, very good humility, wants to improve, but his talent is there for everyone to see,” Lampard said.

“I think he's going to go a long way in the game, he showed that he's so calm on the ball, but he can also defend, and he's so versatile across the back.”

After the CBS Arena had emptied and Lampard disappeared to honour his family’s Hallowe'en commitments, the club released a short video clip of Mfuni in which he discussed the game and began with ‘Obviously I do my research….’. Not many teenage loan defenders do that.

Even his post-match interview was immaculate.