Overnight the Kiwi prodigy rocketed from virtual obscurity to next big thing status, juggling professional football training and a dizzying array of media commitments.

But he said an even bigger test looms – lining up for an understrength Phoenix outfit when they take on Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park today.

It’s a task made all the more complicated given half of the his club’s starting XI will be away on international duty.

Four new debutants – mates of Fenton from the Phoenix football school of excellence - will be brought in to hold the line.

Suddenly far from dissipating, the nerves he felt when starting in place of Paul Ifill last Friday seem amplified.

“Yeah definitely,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com. “Because I think maybe other teams will know a little bit of what I do and will be more switched on to that.

“And certainly the expectations are there to perform every week and that definitely brings a lot more pressure.”

Despite the hoopla surrounding his arrival on the pro-stage, the 19-year-old describe himself as a “pretty private person” who doesn’t like too much attention.

But his spectacular diving header brought plenty of that, with some already declaring it the best goal of a season after just one round.

Fenton admits he was so thrilled to see the ball hit the back of the net, he didn’t know what to do next.

“I was just so excited I ran around,” he said. “After the goal, nothing really came to mind - I just kept running.

“That’s probably the thing about it, it was so quick I really didn’t have time to think about it – it just happened which was quite nice.

His senior teammates and coaching staff are supportive but Fenton credits Phoenix go-to man Paul Ifill for helping him make the step up to the A-League.

“He plays in the same position, gives me good tips and looks after me on and off the field,” he said.

“He was nice enough to take me shopping and spend a bit of his money on me which was good. He’s sponsored by Adidas so he got me a few clothes and stuff like that at the store which is pretty cool.”

Like all overnight sensations, the Phoenix starlet has spent a long time putting in the hard yards away from the media glare.

A season with St Albans and more recently Melbourne Knights in the Victoria Premier League allowed him to pick the brains of former A-League players such as Brisbane Roar’s Danny Tiatto.

It’s a physical and technically accomplished competition, he said, which has helped him prepare for the rigours life in the A-League.

“There are a lot of good young players running around in the state league – they probably need to just wait for their chance and when they get it, take it,” he said.

It’s a lesson Fenton has taken to heart. Veteran teammates – the likes of “Leo and Manny” - might give him some gentle ribbing about still living at home with his family but the teenager is not fazed.

A great debut, he realises, does not a season make and there will be times when he’s thankful for the support of those closest to him.

“My family’s been really encouraging the whole time I’ve been playing soccer,” he said.

“But they also know I’ll probably need them more when things go not so well, when I look to them, and I’m sure they’ll be there to help me out.”

* The VPL Grand Final between Dandenong Thunder and Oakleigh Cannons will kick-off at 5.30pm at AAMI Park following the A-League match.