Nelson Khumbeni is relishing the challenge of League Two football after heading on loan to Morecambe.

The young midfielder has been one of the standout performers since the launch of the B Team in the summer of 2022.

“I am delighted,” Khumbeni told the club website. “When I heard about the news, I thought straight away to jump at it because it is the next step in my career – to test myself against better opposition and with better players.

“It came around really quickly from when I first heard about it. Things started moving in the right direction from then.”

He added: “I am really excited to see the fans, play with the players, take in as much as I can from this experience and enjoy it as much as I can.

“I came in and spoke to the gaffer (Ged Brannan) about how he wants me to play, how my attributes can benefit the team and how I can get the best out of being here.”

Khumbeni came through the ranks at Norwich before joining Bolton and will not play alongside former team-mate Archie Mair at Morecambe.

“I enjoyed my time when I was there, from the young ages up until 19,” he continued. “I went through every age group and saw a lot of different faces.

“Archie is a good lad and from the time at Norwich, we had a good connection and friendship. It makes it easier when you know someone coming into a new place.”

The 21-year-old has been around the first-team picture at Wanderers and scored against Manchester United Under-21s in the EFL Trophy group stage.

“I am thoroughly enjoying it at the moment, being around the first team and even the B Team, playing and training,” he said.

“It is a different experience from what I am used to. Being from down South and coming up here, you experience new things.

“Playing with good players, people like Cameron Jerome who I grew up watching and all of a sudden you are training with him.”

Khumbeni had a spell at AFC Fylde during the first half of the season, which was cut short after picking up an injury.

The midfielder is hungry for more after getting a taste of first-team football and hopes he can kick on at Morecambe.

“It was cut short due to injury but within the time I was there, I really enjoyed it,” he explained.

“I couldn’t have asked anything more than what Fylde gave me – the opportunity to come and play my first minutes in first-team football. I embraced it as much as I could and now I am looking to kick on.”