Express & Star

Keeper Jon Flatt handed pre-season chance by Wolves boss Kenny Jackett

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Teenage goalkeeper Jon Flatt is relishing a taste of first-team football after being handed a pre-season chance by boss Kenny Jackett.

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The Wolverhampton-based 19-year-old played 45 minutes of Wolves' friendly at Bohemians in Ireland then figured for 20 minutes in the 2-2 draw at Peterborough last night.

And the young gloveman is loving his work alongside senior shot-stoppers Carl Ikeme and Aaron McCarey.

"It was great news for me to go out on the tour last week," says Flatt.

"Pat (Mountain, goalkeeping coach) told me it was a good opportunity for the gaffer to see me every day of the week instead of just a couple of sessions a week.

"Hopefully I made a good impression.

"I train with the first team lads a few times a week but I'd maybe sit with the Under-21 lads at dinner and so on whereas on a trip you are always in amongst it.

"It's great experience and the senior lads have all been great with me and passing on advice.

"It all happened quickly before the Bohemians game and I was warming up and then found out I was going to play.

"It was probably better that I didn't have too much time to think about it!

"The lads just told me to go out and be confident and do what I did in training and the Under-21s and I really enjoyed it.

"Thankfully it went well and I kept a clean sheet which is always a good thing.

"Obviously it was all a bit of a surprise so my family and friends were back home but I had a lot of messages from them after the game.

"My brother was gutted that he had missed it.

"He couldn't get to Peterborough last night either because of work, but I was pleased to get on and get some more minutes as well."

Flatt has been with Wolves since the age of eight and grew up supporting the Molineux club.

He said: "Hopefully this just the start for me in the future because I have got to keep working hard to one day get another opportunity.

"If that does happen I have to make sure I am ready so I need to keep pushing myself all the time.

"It's my 12th year at Wolves and this is a great way to start the season but for me there is still a very long way to go.

"There have always been some really good keepers at Wolves and it is always going to be difficult to get in."