Full-backs are often unlikely reluctant heroes but Kevin Foley is already on his way to achieving cult status among Wolves fans.

Now he’s had the nod of approval from a Wolves great – record appearance holder Derek Parkin.

Foley’s superb performance in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Barnsley continues a long line of consistent displays for Mick McCarthy’s side this season.

In setting up the first goal and scoring the other, the 24-year-old took top billing and had the South Bank chanting his name.

Not since another Irish full-back patrolled the flanks with such distinction – Denis Irwin – during the promotion and Premier League seasons have Wolves had such a popular full-back.

And Foley’s consistency has already evoked comparisons with other players to have worn the gold and black such as Bobby Thomson (300 games), Parkin (609), Geoff Palmer (495) and Andy Thompson (451).

Like Parkin and Irwin – who could both play on either flank – Irwin, Foley is two-footed and noted for his cute footballing brain and cultured play.

Foley is honoured by the comparisons to Irwin. “A few supporters have said that to me and it’s a massive compliment because Denis was such a good player whereas I’ve only just started in mine,” said Foley.

“Having said that it began quite well and I’m very happy with the way things have gone so far.”

Missing just one game since his £700,000 move from Luton in August 2007, Foley is also making a valiant attempt to follow Parkin’s record of consistency, with his goal coming in is 240th senior career game.

And the Molineux legend and recent inductee to the club’s Hall of Fame is highly impressed with the former Luton defender.

“I saw him on TV at the weekend and from what I’ve seen, he’s doing really well,” said Parkin. “He gets forward and gets into good positions, which is always good for a young full-back – you either get away with it or you don’t.

“It was a good cross for the first goal and he did ever so well in the box for the second and finished it well. It’s early days but things like that give you a major confidence boost.

“I remember when I was playing, no one told me I could play until one day a coach at Huddersfield, Henry Cockburn, who played for Manchester United and England, said ‘you can play’ and he made me believe I could do it.

“He told me I’d be in the team at 16 and he was right. Kevin’s record speaks for itself. He’s only a young boy but to have almost 250 games already is a very impressive record.

“I was lucky in that I stayed injury-free – that’s the secret. As a full-back, you’ve got chance to play a lot more games than midfield players because you’ve got time to get into space – as a midfielder, you can run and run and not get the ball. If he steers clear of injury and continues to show the right attitude, there’s no reason why he can’t go on and play right at the highest level.” Eager to please, diligent and hardworking, Foley already has the level head required to go to the top.

“It’s important you don’t get carried away with yourself or get complacent because if you do, you can easily drop the levels of your game,” he said.

“After every match I think about what I’ve done right or what I could have better – how many times I’d given the ball away, how many crosses I did or didn’t get over.

“For me there’s nothing worse than giving the ball away and I’m my own worst critic when I have a bad game.” The Wolves team built by McCarthy is packed full of young players of similar age and hungry to do well, with Wayne Hennessey, Carl Ikeme, Richard Stearman, Stephen Ward, George Friend, Michael Kightly, Dave Jones, Dave Edwards, Matt Jarvis, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Andy Keogh all in their early 20s, while Sam Vokes is only 19.

Parkin believes having a group of players of the same age and outlook is crucial to success. And the Geordie, now approaching his 61st birthday on January 2, has compared the Wolves of today to the exciting team of the early 1970s he was part of.

“There’s not just him – when youngsters do well, it breeds success,” said Parkin. “Youngsters see other youngsters doing well and they want to do the same. When I played, John McAlle, Kenny Hibbitt, John Richards, Alan Sunderland, Geoff Palmer and Steve Daley all came through at a similar time.”

Parkin believes the scope and opportunity to improve is the best it’s ever been for young players. “The young generation and the coaching isn’t like in my day when we were on the groundstaff and had to sweep the terraces,” he said.“These lads are concentrating purely on their football and if you’re prepared to put in the work then you can go a long way.”