Young Wolves to follow the Villa example

The club's newly-formed Under-21 side has won three and drawn two games so far despite being grouped with Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool in the new Under-21 Reserve League.

Development coach Steve Weaver believes the youngsters are reaping the benefits of staying together and developing rather than being farmed out on loan.

"It's gone well and is perhaps what we might now look to do in terms of keeping a good group of players here to go with the seniors who need games and taking one or two from the Under-18s," said Weaver.

"We've seen such a progression in the lads by keeping them together and developing as a team that it's reaping its rewards."

Wolves achieving Category One status means they face top opposition at academy and reserve-team level, and youngsters fighting to get into the manager's plans can develop together as a unit.

"The EPPP has changed the thinking in that it's not now about players getting into the reserves and then being sent out on loan," said Weaver.

"The Premier League say this is a serious league and they want to push it.

"We're trying to back it and stay with it. Villa have taken this approach for a while by keeping a group together and doing really well in reserve-team football.

"Some have then gone on to the first team.

"We'll still send lads out on loan. When players have maybe had their shelf life with reserve-team football, they may have to go out."