Wolves teenage winger Johnny Gorman could make his competitive debut for Northern Ireland – despite not playing a first-team game for his club.

The 17-year-old has already been capped three times but those appearances have been in friendlies.

But the former Manchester United school of excellence product is likely to start on the bench in this evening’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovenia.

And if recent history is anything to go by, boss Nigel Worthington will at some point play the wideman, who attends Repton School in Derbyshire after winning a scholarship.

Worthington said: “You look back over my time as manager of Northern Ireland and I have always encouraged the younger ones to come through.

“Johnny went to America and Chile with us in the summer and did ever so well. I think it’s only right to encourage and give him the experience of travelling, hotels and working with the senior players.

“Great credit to him, he’s fitted into the group by adding to it, rather than taking away from it. Sometimes with young players their inexperience and nerves can hold you back a bit.

“That hasn’t happened with Johnny, so I’m delighted with that.

“He deserves to be here.”

Wolves academy boss Kevin Thelwell is thrilled with the call up.

He said: “Johnny being picked for the qualifiers is another great achievement.

“We don’t know if he’s going to be involved or if he’ll be on the bench and might get on.

“It’s an achievement enough for an academy scholar to play senior international football and getting picked for friendlies is one thing.

“Being with the senior squad for the first matches of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign is another matter.

“I think they trimmed the squad and the only young players left are Johnny and Corey Evans who’s at Manchester United.

“It’s quite an accolade that he’s stayed in the reckoning. He played in the two summer games – 70 minutes in both – and then came on for the last 25 of the game with Montenegro.

“It’s all great experience for him as part of his development.”

Thelwell stressed Gorman’s approach to the game hasn’t changed despite his elevation to senior international football – partly because he has to go back to school afterwards!

He said: “It’s all been very positive for Johnny who’s been just the same since he came back this season. He knows he’s got a tough schedule this year with him being a scholar and the educational side of things at Repton as well.

“As soon as he’s back from international duty he’s back to school.

“So he’s keeping things as normal as possible so it doesn’t impact on anything else.”

Wolves academy has gained further international recognition with the selection of recent signing Jake Cassidy and Jordan Cranston in Wales under-19s.

Thelwell added: “It’s the first call-ups for both players and adds to our representation in various of the young international squads.”