Wolves might have lost 3-0 at Chelsea on Saturday but, for one of their players, it was the best day of his life.

A rare plus point from the latest humbling at Stamford Bridge was the Premier League debut of rookie Anthony Forde.

The classy midfielder, who celebrated his 18th birthday 13 days ago, made history as the first Wolves outfield academy graduate to play in the Premier League under boss Mick McCarthy at the weekend.

McCarthy said, after the August friendly against Real Zaragoza when Forde appeared in the senior side for the first time, that we would be seeing more of the wiry Irish teenager this season.

The manager has been as good as his word, although few would have expected to see the youngster in the Premier League quite so soon after only making his competitive debut in the 4-0 Carling Cup win at Northampton in August as a late substitute.

Many feel the path from Wolves’ academy to the first team is one that has been trod all too infrequently in recent years.

Apart from goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, the club has consistently failed to produce players considered good enough for the much higher and more demanding standard of the Premier League.

Joleon Lescott and Norwich winger Elliott Bennett, who left Wolves for Brighton in 2009, beat Forde to the accolade, but both Lescott and Bennett had left Molineux before plying their trade in the top flight, while the Manchester City defender never played under McCarthy.

But the emergence of Forde is evidence of high hopes of a brighter future.

Left-back Jamie Reckord, winger Zeli Ismail and striker Liam McAlinden are three more who continue to impress in gold and black below the first team, while there are a host of homegrown players out on loan doing likewise up and down the country.

“Hopefully there are a few of us who have shown some promise,” said Forde.

“But it’s very hard to get there in terms of the first team and we’ve got to keep on working.

“I’ve just got to keep working harder and harder and hopefully at some stage I’ll get another opportunity.”

All are determined to follow Forde, who earned himself 15 minutes of fame he will never forget and hope that it represents the start of a golden career.

“It was one of the best days of my life,” he said.

“The gaffer had told me to play my normal game and enjoy it. I managed to get a few touches and put a couple of crosses in although it all went very quickly.

“It was brilliant to be up against Ashley Cole and all those Chelsea players and in front of over 41,000 fans as well. It was unbelievable and the best feeling ever when I ran on the pitch.

“I’d been in the travelling squad before and come on at Northampton but never on the bench in a Premier League game.

“A few of us younger lads travelled for the weekend and I didn’t know, until in the hotel before the game, when the gaffer named the squad.

“I heard my name read out and I was just delighted.

“Then when he told me to get warmed up and that I was coming on it was like a dream.

“That feeling soon faded when I got on the pitch because I was just focused then and trying to do my best.”