There were a few familiar faces greeting Wolves' new loan signing Marlon Harewood when he checked into Compton last week.

The striker was already well acquainted with Kyel Reid from their time together at West Ham as well as Nigel Quashie both from the Hammers and Nottingham Forest.

But there was also another blast from the past awaiting the striker from his days at the City Ground which began over a decade ago.

Wolves' Assistant Academy Manager and Under-18s coach John Perkins.

Or "Perko" as he was known to Marlon.

When the striker arrived at Forest as a 16-year-old John was still in Nottingham carrying out the same job he now fulfils at Wolves including coaching the Youth team.

And he has revealed that Marlon actually operated at a different end at the pitch in his formative days.

"Marlon came to Nottingham Forest as a 16-year-old as a centre half," says John.

"When you asked him where he wanted to play he'd usually say 'anywhere'.

"And in the first year we had him he probably did play anywhere.

"It was in his second year that he moved up to wide right and then centre forward where he ended up.

"He did very well and had a really good second year.

"I can actually remember a game against Wolves when Marlon played against people like Robbie Keane, Lee Naylor and Keith Andrews.

"Eventually he just stuck in the centre forward position because of his pace and power and physical presence, even at that age."

The fact John has such a crystal clear memory of Marlon the youngster is quite clearly a sign that he was one of those players he always felt would make the grade.

"Marlon was one of those players who when they came through you knew they would make a good living in the game," he confirms.

"At that stage maybe you couldn't have picked which level that would be at.

"He went on to do well in the first team and had a couple of good moves from there as a result.

"It's credit to him that he went all the way to the Premier League and that's because he continued to work hard at his game and showed the right attitude.

"He's a good lad who works hard and is always a handful up front."

And that is why 'Perko' believes Mick McCarthy has landed an astute acquisition ahead of the crucial Championship run-in.

"I think he's a really good signing for the gaffer," he says.

"He's got experience and he will also provide options because he can also play wide right.

"He's a very competitive player and one who is ideal to come in and join this group of first team players at this particular time."