These Wolves starlets weren’t even born when Steve Bull was rampaging through the lower divisions and starring in a World Cup.

But having shared lifts and a skipful of memories over almost a decade, it was perhaps fitting that Danny Batth, Sam Winnall and Ashley Hemmings should make their first competitive starts together for Wolves.

All three made impressive contributions for Mick McCarthy’s side in the 2-1 Carling Cup win against Southend on Tuesday night.

While Winnall superbly won the penalty converted by Nenad Milijas for the opening goal and was a real nuisance to the Shrimpers defence, Batth was a towering figure at the back and Hemmings a pacy box of tricks on the left wing.

But there is more than the parallel of their introduction to first team football that links the latest prospects to roll off the Molineux production line.

Taken on at the same time as schoolboys, the 19-year-old trio were all born within six months and 10 miles of each other and schooled in Wolverhampton – Hemmings at Aldersley and Winnall at Smestow, or in Batth’s case the Black Country.

And they all progressed through the ranks to form three of an unprecedented seven academy graduates in March 2009.

Fellow survivors of that seven – Scott Malone, David Davis and Johnny Dunleavy – are close to following them.

But although they stand on the brink of every youngster’s dream, to play in the Premier League, their paths have not always been paved with gold.

Having arrived at Wolves at the tender age of 10, Brierley Hill-born Batth’s emergence through the ranks was hampered by a serious shoulder injury.

Winnall’s whole career was hanging in the balance after tearing his cruciate knee ligament just over a year ago.

Hemmings’ initial foray into the professional ranks on loan at Cheltenham then with Wolves in the Championship-winning season didn’t prevent him being forced to wait for almost 18 months for a follow-up taste of senior action after a series of niggling injuries.

But the underlying curve has been upwards.

Batth was named the club’s Young Player of the Year last May after an impressive season on loan at League One Colchester, Hemmings was voted the academy’s best in 2007-08 when England under-17 honours came his way and Winnall has scored a steady stream of goals at under-18 through to reserve team level.

The connections are not lost on the youngsters, as Batth recognised.

He said: “It was great to be playing alongside the other younger lads because we all go back quite far together, right the way back to the under-11s and under-12s.

“We’ve stuck together all the way through, so it’s great to see us all pushing together.”

Batth believes it’s no coincidence that he and his mates have flourished at Wolves – because they are in the ideal learning environment.

He said: “Everything is here for anyone who’s good enough and applies themselves – you’ve just got to take your chance when it comes and see where it takes you.

“There’s a good group of players and everyone is driven. Everyone has the right personality and comes into training every day wanting to be the best.

“Training has a real edge about it and so everyone improves as they go along, which is really good to be a part of.”

But like his friends, ambitious Batth is not about to let one performance go to his head.

He said: “I’ll go away and have a look at the DVD of the game and see what bits I can improve on.

“I do that all the time but playing in the Carling Cup was also a good experience with extra-time as well.”

But perhaps there is one area where Batth has an advantage on his peers.

He said: “The gaffer is always giving me bits of information to help me improve.

“Being a centre-back himself, it means he can help me out a lot and he does, which is great.” ]

However, advice wasn’t thin on the ground the other night.

Batth explained: “As a new player coming into the team, everyone put an arm around me and said their piece.

“I just tried to take something from everyone and put it into practice on the night.”

Their performances weren’t lost on World Cup star Adlene Guedioura, who believes Wolves have unearthed a few real gems for the future.

He said: “They have to be happy with their performances the other night, because they showed that they can play in the Premier League.

“They impressed everyone – Danny and Ashley played well and Sam won the penalty for the first goal.

“To see lads come through like that and play so well on their debuts can only be good for the club.

“If I was in their shoes, I’d be very happy because they showed they can be real players of the future.”

By Tim Nash