James Collins concedes Villa will have to find a way past “Britain’s best young goalkeeper” if they are to taste derby delight in the Premier League clash with Wolves at Molineux.

That is how highly Collins rates his international team-mate and Molineux’s 22-year-old No 1, the man the Villa defender plays in front of for Wales.

Although 16th-placed Wolves are still getting to grips with life in the top flight, highly-rated Hennessey has not looked out of place among the big boys, enhancing his reputation as one of the country’s most gifted goalkeepers.

Compatriot Collins is a big admirer and admits Martin O’Neill’s men will have their work cut out beating the 6ft 5in stopper tomorrow lunchtime.

The defender said: “I don’t think there is a better young British goalkeeper around at the moment. He’s a great goalkeeper. He is a big presence and an excellent shot-stopper.

“He’s been playing in a team that is not performing tremendously well recently. He’s been one of their better players.

“There’s a lot of competition at Wolves already, but when you’ve got someone breathing down your neck for your place that always makes you play better. I’m sure that’s what’s happening with Wayne.

“He’s had some good success early on in his career being the Wales No. 1. That can go to your head sometimes but he just wants to learn.

“The best thing is he’s still got many years ahead of him. As soon as we lost Paul Jones a couple of years ago, Wayne was the natural heir.

“He has been getting some great press and I’m sure he will only improve.”

While Collins finds himself playing in front of one of the world’s youngest keepers on the international stage, the £5million man finds himself in the opposite situation for his club with 38-year-old Brad Friedel between the sticks.

With a 16-year gap between the pair, the Wales defender reckons it is only natural Hennessey still has to develop some of the skills which have made the evergreen American one of the best stoppers to grace the Premier League.

He said: “Obviously Wayne hasn’t had as many games as Brad and he’s not the biggest of talkers yet. Being such a young lad it is quite hard. Since I’ve come here Brad has been tremendous.”

The deadline day arrival from West Ham has made a dream start to life in the Midlands. Collins is part of what is currently the Premier League’s best defence and capped his first goal for the club – the winner in last week’s 2-1 win over Chelsea – by being named Man of the Match.

He said: “It has been a great start for me here and scoring the winner against Chelsea on Saturday topped it all off.”