Crystal Palace chief Neil Warnock has promised not to ruin John Bostock's career by over-playing him after he became the Eagles' youngest ever player on Monday night.

Goals from Tommy Smith and Marlon King gave Watford a comfortable 2-0 victory at Selhurst Park - but the game will be remembered as the night that 15-year-old Bostock became Palace's youngest ever player, surpassing Phil Hoadley, who made his league debut as a 16-year-old against Bolton Wanderers in 1968.

Much is expected of the England U16 international and it is understood Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona have tracked the teenager's progress.

And after making his senior Eagles bow, Warnock insists he will wrap his precocious talent in cotton wool after the youngster's impressive 19 minute cameo on Monday night.

Warnock said: "He's not just big enough to cope with it, he is good enough.

"I think there's a few lads at the club like him to come - but I don't just want to throw them all in.

"We won't ruin the lad, he will be in and out.

"But in saying that he should have been playing all season in the reserves to improve his strength.

"So he has missed out on a few months, but fortunately we've turned that round now and he didn't look out of place."

If anyone was in doubt of Bostock's talent, a five second cameo which saw him barge 24-year-old Jobi McAnuff off the ball and then play a nonchalant no look pass to Franck Songo'o, should have cleared up any confusion.

And with some of world football's big guns circling round the talented midfielder it will surely become increasingly difficult to keep hold of Bostock.

But Warnock is confident he can secure the future of the academy player because of the influence of the yonugster's family.

"It won't be hard to keep hold of Bostock, not with the family he has got behind him because they are level headed.

"I had a similar scenario at Sheffield United, but they weren't a level headed family because the pound notes outshone what you should do for your son.

"John's father is very sensible and knows what he should be doing for his son.

He added: "It's better playing a 100 games in two or three years than it is being number 20 pick at Chelsea or Manchester United."