Pep Lijnders has been impressed by Antoine Semenyo's quick adaptation at Manchester City, having scored a debut goal in Saturday's 10-1 FA Cup rout of Exeter City.

Semenyo only joined City from Bournemouth on Friday, after scoring a stoppage-time winner against Tottenham on his farewell appearance for the Cherries on Wednesday.

City agreed to pay £65m for Semenyo, beating off competition from Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs for his signature. 

And he wasted little time in getting up and running at the Etihad Stadium, starting Saturday's third-round tie and registering a goal and an assist.

Semenyo is the first player to both score and assist on his debut for City, in all competitions, since Sergio Aguero against Swansea City in August 2011.

Overall, he has scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 22 matches this season, and assistant coach Lijnders – who was on the touchline due to Pep Guardiola serving a one-match ban – is excited by what the Ghanian can bring to City's attack.

"Antoine is settling in well," Lijnders said, via the club's website. 

"He's a humble guy, we followed him for a long time, and he brings something to the frontline that we want and need.

"He can attack quickly, he wants to chase, he doesn't stop. You saw that he can adapt quickly to our style, so it's nice to have him with us.

"Overall, I think we have a really special group with experienced players that take the lead of the team – the way they guide the others.

"New players are settling in and the energy – I'm not just talking about the games but especially in training – it is special."

City became the first English top-flight side to score 10 goals in any match since Liverpool thumped Fulham 10-0 in the EFL Cup in 1986, and the first to do so in the FA Cup since Tottenham beat Crewe 13-2 in 1960.

It was also Exeter's heaviest-ever defeat and the first time the Grecians – who are 14th in League One – have ever conceded double figures in a match as a Football League side.

City now face Newcastle United in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final tie on Tuesday, with Lijnders acknowledging the domestic cups are a priority for them this season.

"We want to reach finals this year, and we're on our way, playing the semi-final in the League Cup. We want to go further in the FA Cup, and we are in the Champions League, and in a good position," he said.

"We want to build on that. The most important thing, Pep says it all the time... is that we want to grow and make the next step as a team.

"We need to keep working hard and take nothing for granted. We'll approach the next game as a final, and that will be Newcastle. With tha,t we will grow and make the next step."