Kevin Thelwell urging Wolves fans to back cubs

Mick Halsall's Under-18s host Charlton (7pm) aiming to go one better than at the same third-round stage last season when they lost to capital opposition in a 3-2 thriller to West Ham.

The club are very proud of their academy attaining category one status – they were the first in the West Midlands to do so - and Wolves now boast facilities among the best in the country for the development of homegrown players.

And Thelwell wants supporters to see the young talent they have to showcase.

"The more people we can get to the game the better," said Thelwell.

"The lads are really excited about playing in front of a home crowd with a new stand as well and trying to show people what they're all about, and the more Wolves fans there, the better that will be. It gives fans an opportunity to see the boys we've been talking about and they've been hearing about, so the more backing the better, especially against such tough opposition.

"But it will be another great experience for the lads."

Although he would love to have a run in the famous old competition, Thelwell stressed the bigger picture – producing first-team players.

"It sounds daft when you're entering a cup competition, but the result is partly irrespective as a by-product of the performance," he said.

"It's such a pressurised circumstance for the lads and a lot is made of this one game.

"A win and a run would be lovely, but what's important is they give a good account of themselves and show they're capable of playing in the Wolves way."

While Wolves Under-21s have been promoted to the Elite League in the new year, the Under-18s are currently fifth out of seven teams.

Thelwell added: "The season so far for the Under-18s has been up and down.

"We could have done better in a few games but it's a steep learning curve having moved up a level and we're coming up against strong opposition week-in week-out now.

"We'd love to be flying high and sitting in first or second position, but we can't lose sight of what it's all about which is producing individuals for our first team."

Wolves fans love to see the emergence of homegrown talent but while insisting the future looks bright, Thelwell stressed the importance of patience.

"I think the future looks very bright going forwards," he said.

"Everybody wants to see these players come through straightaway.

"We want as many players as we can in and around the first team.

"But youth football is a long-term development project and it's about taking little steps towards the first team.

"David Davis, Anthony Forde and Danny Batth are regularly involved in the first-team squad and we've got four or five out on loan getting valuable experience.

"We're hoping they return better players and hopefully Stale (Solbakken) can review and evaluate where they are."