Kalen Brunson ticked another box on his journey in professional football after making his senior debut for Queens Park Rangers in their 3-2 loss away to Plymouth Argyle in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

The Bermuda Under-17 and QPR academy winger joined the fray with his team trailing 3-2 having squandered a two-goal cushion.

“It was good and definitely a memorable experience,” Brunson told The Royal Gazette.

“I was surprised when the manager [Julien Stéphan] called me over and I started to warm up.

”I am happy to make my debut and with the progress I am making at QPR.“

Brunson’s proud father, Kevun Arorash, is equally as delighted to see his son make his senior debut.

“I am thrilled to see him make his debut and that he is able to live out his dream. This is what he has always wanted to do,” he said.

“He has been very disciplined and made tremendous sacrifices while remaining humble.”

Brunson was among eight academy players in the QPR squad, with three of them among seven players making their full debut against League One side Plymouth.

Stéphan rung the changes as he went with a fresh starting XI for the cup-tie from the one that played to a 1-1 stalemate against visiting Preston North End at Loftus Road on the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship season last Saturday.

QPR made a dream start with first-half tallies from Daniel Bennie and Rayan Kolli earning them a 2-0 advantage at the break.

However, Plymouth hit back through a brace from Owen Oseni and a goal by Brendan Wiredu to turn the tie on its head and complete the comeback to advance to the next round.

The home team also had a penalty saved after falling behind to Bennie’s 21st-minute strike.

Stéphan hailed the efforts of his young players despite going down to defeat.

“It was a special game, a very special game, and I said to the players at the end that I was very proud of being their coach because they gave everything from the beginning until the end,” he told the club’s official website.

“Plymouth had a lot of opportunities, but to be two goals ahead at half-time, it was amazing for the young players.

“Unfortunately, we conceded too quickly in the second half, but I am very proud of the players and proud to give them the opportunity to show [what they can do] and to live a new experience.”

As for losing a two-goal cushion, Stéphan said: “We spoke a lot at half-time with the players that the first 15 minutes will be very important. They tried to do their best, but the first goal changed the momentum at the beginning of the second half.

“In the second half, we were less powerful, especially in the offensive line, to create danger behind their defensive line. So, each time they can stay in our half, it's difficult to play 45 minutes like this.

“But they did their best all the time.”

Brunson, a product of PHC, Brooke House College and Beechwood School Elite Football Academy, joined QPR last December after completing a successful trial.

Since then, he continues to make steady progress playing with QPR’s under-21 team and extended his stay at Loftus Road after signing a two-year scholarship with the West London club this year.

Brunson is following in the footsteps of compatriots Nahki Wells, who had two loan spells with QPR, and Dashun Cooper, a goalkeeper coach with the club’s academy.