Wolves starlets get a chance to shine in the Spanish sun

Hugo Bueno, Joe Hodge, Nathan Fraser and Leon Chiwome have all emerged in recent years and once again a selection of prodigies have travelled on pre-season with the first team.

Lewys Benjamin, Jimmy Storer, Nigel Lonwijk, Wes Okoduwa and Luke Rawlings – as well as Chiwome and Tawanda Chirewa – are all with Wolves in Marbella as the team prepare for the 2024/25 campaign.

Right-back Okoduwa and midfielder Rawlings are the two youngest at just 16-years-old, with the pair being offered a fantastic and rare opportunity.

“The interesting thing with young players is there will always be players that surprise you,” assistant head coach Tim Jenkins told the Express & Star. “Whoever is performing well in the academy, we’ll be aware of who is at that level, but the conversion of that to a senior level isn’t always a smooth pathway.

“I’ve seen a number of players that aren’t necessarily the gold medallists in the younger age groups but when it comes to making a breakthrough, working with a manager, integrating into a senior squad and playing in front of a crowd, until they cross the white line it’s difficult to predict who makes it.

“We have Wes with us at the moment and this period will be a great experience for him.

“For Luke Rawlings, this is his first year on a full-time training programme and he’s now with us.

“We’re trying to offer these guys the best experience possible and it’s then down to them to push on.

“We’ve been happy with the lads, they’ve done well, but they also have a long way to go as they’re so young. The other day we did some patterns of play in midfield and Tommy Doyle was excellent with Luke. He’s been in that position before coming through the academy position.

“He not only encouraged him but gave him detail to try and help him and spoke to him after the session.

“Sometimes the players around them will be their best coaches and Tommy is a really good example.”

Alongside support from first-team players, head coach Gary O’Neil is willing to give youth a chance.

Okoduwa was on the bench for several Premier League games last season and eventually chose to sign as a first year scholar, turning down Chelsea.

In Marbella training, O’Neil was encouraging Rawlings to take chances with his passing in a game scenario and said he doesn’t care if the youngster makes mistakes.

Moments later the midfielder pinged a delightful pass out wide and it is that fearlessness that Wolves want to hone, while also ensuring these young talents remain patient and continue to perform when they return to the academy.

“There’s also an understanding that it’s OK to fail,” Jenkins added. “I wouldn’t even call it failing really, it’s just an experience for them.

“When they get back to the academy environment and they don’t get as many opportunities to do what they’re doing now, the biggest thing is that they don’t lose patience and build on the experience.

“We want the guys with us to go back to the academy and be a real example to the other players, not only in how they play but how they conduct themselves.

“They’re getting the experience of what it’s like to be a player of this level. That’s the biggest battle for them, to maintain those same standards when they go back to the academy.”