Barnet Under-18’s hot-shot Matt Stevens says having Martin Allen on the touchline is like having a 12th man during games.

The 16-year-old striker has netted an incredible 32 goals in 26 games this season, going a long way towards dwarfing his seasonal target of 35 and leading to a first-team debut in the 2-1 win over Alfreton Town in September.

And Stevens, who joined the Bees at the beginning of the season after leaving Reading, is effusive in his praise of Allen.

He said: “I think he is a real great manager. He looks after his players. Like the older boys, he is always asking how they feel and if they are all right to train and things like that.

“He is massive for the players, he seems like he has a big input on the team. It is like having 12 men when he is there because he is so loud on the side, I think it helps the players out massively.”

With the Bees edging towards a 1-1 home draw against struggling Alfreton at the beginning of September, Stevens was handed his professional debut from the bench with eight minutes remaining and very nearly scored the winner in the process.

Spanish midfielder Luisma Villa ensured maximum points with a well-taken free-kick, but it was a special occasion for Stevens nonetheless.

“I will always remember that day,” he said. “I was just grateful to Martin Allen for giving me the chance to come on. It was a massive day and I was real happy to come on. Obviously it was not me who got the winner – which I would have liked – but we got the winner so it was a very good day and a great experience.

“I had been training with the first team for a couple of weeks before that and I was doing well with my own age group as well so I sort of expected a chance, but not to actually play.

“Like I say, Martin Allen is massive in that; he gives anyone an opportunity if you are doing well and it was just a day to remember.”

Stevens has regularly been involved in first-team training this season and was also on the bench for Barnet’s crucial 2-0 win at Gateshead in October. The forward has quickly shaken off any nerves about stepping up to join the first team.

“I really did think it was going to be me sat on my own not knowing anybody,” admits Stevens, reflecting on his first session. “But as soon as I went in there they all said hello and really welcomed me. Martin Allen was massive; he introduced me to all the players in the first training session and said nice things about me to the players.

“The training is a lot different to our age group; there are a lot more balls going into the box, whereas our age group like to play around the box and combinations. It definitely improves me when I train with the first team.”

As one of the more physically developed players in the Under-18s, Stevens feels he has benefited from his physique against opposing teams and against more familiar faces too.

He explained: “Ever since I was little my physical size has been a massive part of how I play and I think it has helped me a lot this season with who I am playing up against and I feel like I am strong enough to hold off some of the men I train with when I do train with the first team.

“Some of the play is a bit different. I think a lot more of the teams I was playing at Reading – like your Arsenals and Manchester Uniteds – they all played on the floor, you rarely saw a ball go long.

“There are a couple of teams in this league which go a bit more long ball, but I think that suits me a bit more because I like to get up, win headers and get balls down.”