Wolves fans’ player of the year Kevin Foley has been backed as World Cup class after an impressive Republic of Ireland debut last night.

The 24-year-old right-back won his first cap in the 1-1 friendly draw with Nigeria at Fulham as ex-Wolves men Keith Andrews and Robbie Keane combined for the latter’s equaliser.

And Foley, who played 72 minutes before being replaced by former Baggie Paul McShane, has done enough to be involved in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier away to Bulgaria providing he recovers from a slight knock.

“He truly deserves his cap and I’m sure he’ll win many more,” said Blackburn midfielder Andrews, who played 72 games, scoring one goal for Wolves during a six-year spell from 1999 before moving to Hull and MK Dons. “Without doubt he can play in World Cup qualifiers – I rate him very highly.

“I think he’ll show his class next season at Premier League level and I think he’ll keep going from there. He’s still only relatively young so I think he’s got a very good future.

“He’s a Premier League player, absolutely. He’s got all the attributes.

“He doesn’t get the credit he deserves as a defender – everyone sees him as an attacking full-back but he very rarely gets caught out defensively.”

Foley became Wolves’ ninth current full international after fellow Irishmen Andy Keogh, Darren Potter and Stephen Gleeson, Wales trio Wayne Hennessey, Dave Edwards and Sam Vokes and Scotland pair Christ-ophe Berra and Chris Iwelumo.

And he was one of four in action last night, as Vokes played the first hour up front for the Welsh in their 1-0 friendly win over Estonia at Llanelli.

Hennessey was a half-time substitute and Ed-wards was a 67th minute replacement for Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey.

Keogh was an unused substitute for the Irish.