There are a number of Wolves youngsters currently training with the first team, which has had a knock-on effect down the academy, meaning opportunities have been presented for players to make the step-up and perform at a higher level.
The under-21s have included players as young as 15, while Saturday’s match-winner at Cardiff City was 16-year-old Fraser Harper who was making his 21s debut. Similarly, at under-18 level, the last two starting elevens have averaged an age of 16.1.
Ryan recently flew out to Spain to watch three players compete in the under-16s Football Federations Cup and has sung the praises of the trio, who were representing Wales and England. And it’s those experiences on the international stage, along with the current challenge of pushing players early, that Ryan suggests has placed the academy in a strong position where several have graduated into the first team.
On Leo Shahar, Brayden Clarke and Makenzie Bradbury playing in the Football Federations Cup
“It tells a lot about our academy and where we are at the moment, they all looked at home there.
“It was good to see Leo more positive and comfortable in the environment and all three were technically very good.
“In my role I’m still looking at what they need to develop and reporting back to the coaches and senior staff on areas where we do see they need to improve on. I thought it was recognition of how good the academy is with one lad playing for England and two playing for Wales.
“All three have been in and around those groups for the last two years and we’ve got more who are getting international recognition now.”
Brayden Clarke 🏴
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) November 29, 2022
Makenzie Bradbury 🏴
Leo Shahar 🏴
A trio of academy players represented their nations at the Football Federations Cup in Spain last week.
🏆🇪🇸
On young players being given opportunities
“It’s been really good for the development of both coaches and players. It’s fantastic that Julen (Lopetegui) has come in and the staff have taken nine players in to train with the first team and follow their schedule.
“We discussed with Jon Hunter-Barrett, Matt Hobbs, James Collins and Steve Davis which players were going to go down with the first team. It then has a knock-on effect, but it’s been great for the younger players to get that opportunity.
“A lot of the 18s have gone up to the 21s and I think we had three under-16s getting minutes with the 21s which is fantastic.
“It was a difficult day for the under-18s at Man City on Saturday, but the way the younger players handled it and kept going means they’ll learn from that in the long-term.
“For me, it’s been fantastic seeing these younger players getting the opportunity – there were two 14-year-olds playing in the 18s. We looked at the average age against Leeds and Man City and I think it was 16.1 which is unbelievable and it’s probably similar to the under-21s.”
On pushing the players early
“It’s been challenging, but it’s been good. As a football club, that’s our philosophy - we push and challenge the players when we think it’s the right time for them. The opportunities they get here is fantastic and you only have to look at what we’ve produced.
“Some are being pushed early because of the first team taking nine players to train with them but if we didn’t think they could handle it, we wouldn’t push them.
“You look at the positives of Fraser Harper, a 16-year-old, scoring for the under-21s. Sometimes we do look at the results but more prominently, we’re looking at producing individuals for our first team or potentially going out on loan.
Reynolds and Harper combine 😍#PLCup pic.twitter.com/bOl474jKaT
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) December 3, 2022
“As individuals they’re all different and part of my role is looking at that specific individual and finding the right challenge for them.”
On how the players are integrated and have fared in higher age groups
“They’ve done really well. Last week in the Birmingham Senior Cup, Makenzie Bradbury made his full debut for the 21s and they look really good. We integrate these players a lot during the week as well – we’ve got access to the under-16 players on two mornings and they’re in and around the under-18s and under-21s on a regular basis.
“Even last week, an under-15 and under-16 in Makenzie and Alfie White trained with the first team. They’ve got access and it helps that when they come into the environment, they’re already comfortable – they know the players, they eat together and that’s massive. When you do play these younger players with the older ones, nothing fazes them and I think that’s getting the environment right for them.
“We always work to a succession plan and look at what’s underneath and above – it makes the players ready for when they need to step up.
“It’s been a massive plus over the last few years of how we’ve progressed the academy and it’s showing with the amount of debuts we’ve had this season.”
A special night for Makenzie Bradbury (15), Brayden Clarke (15), Caden Voice (16) and Fabian Reynolds (17) who all made their under-21s debut yesterday evening 👏 pic.twitter.com/igsRQtCBJY
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) December 1, 2022
On the academy players training with the first team
“The feedback we’ve had from Julen and his staff is that they’ve done well. It’s a fantastic opportunity for these players. Julen’s embraced the academy and I always say that first impressions are really good for these players to make.
“Owen Farmer’s been really good for the 18s this year, got his opportunity with the 21s when Nathan Fraser had a slight knock and he took that opportunity scoring in the game against Reading.
“It’s great for Owen to be in and around that and it’s great for all the players – your Alfie Pond’s, your Harvey Griffiths’ and even Nathan Fraser.
“Nathan Fraser says that one of his heroes growing up was Diego Costa, so the best to learn off is the best at what he does. What an opportunity for Nathan and Owen to be in and around Diego Costa to learn from one of the best strikers that’s played in the Premier League.”
