Kenny Jackett is confident Bright Enobakhare has the potential to go on and succeed for Wolves in the Sky Bet Championship.
The 17-year-old old striker’s 32-minute runout in Saturday’s draw with Blackburn was the longest in five league appearances so far, and Jackett is confident he has plenty to offer the team in the future.
"Bright, despite being a youth team player, got into good areas,” the Head Coach said of his performance.
"I think he did well and showed a footballing intelligence to move and receive the ball in good areas.
"I think he’s capable of going one better, as he gets stronger, to go past people and make a difference.
"He has the ability to do that and does it in training.
"It’ll be interesting to see how he develops off that back of that cameo appearance.
"This season he's had seven appearances in the first team (in all competitions) – it's good, and unusual, for an under-18.
"Hopefully he can build on that and keep improving and go on and fulfil the potential we all feel he has.
"He doesn't look out of place in the Championship. He’s got the power and the football intelligence.”
Enobakhare, who moved to England from his native Nigeria three years ago, is in digs near the training ground and has enjoyed something of a breakthrough season at senior level, starting with being included on the pre-season training camp in Clairefontaine.
Jackett says a loan move has been discussed, but that they believe the young striker will be better served staying at Wolves to continue his development.
"It’s an unusual situation and not quite the norm” he says.
"We thought about sending him out on loan but his situation is quite unique.
"We feel it would isolate him somewhat and he isn’t quite ready for that.
"Keeping him at Wolves has helped him as person.
"We don’t want to be soft on anyone but we want to support them as well.
"I think he’s got the power for the division.
"His next stage now is to come on (off the bench), get into those areas, get onto the ball, but then be driving past people, taking them into one v one situations."
Jackett meanwhile is looking for goals from his more experienced strikers between now and the end of the season.
He acknowledges that chances have been few and far between for the likes of Bjorn Sigurdarson, Joe Mason and Adam Le Fondre, and that the team need to provide them with more service.
“It is a concern, definitely” he said of the lack of goals from the frontmen.
"The goals have dried up.
“But us getting them chances and service from the wide areas, passes from midfield – they’re all things we look at as well.
“For those three guys, it’s few and far between in terms of opportunities.
“But sometimes as a forward you’ve got to make something out of nothing as well, and create a chance for yourself.
“For all of them (strikers), no professional footballer wants to do poorly – they all want to do well.
“You have to speak to them honestly and (offer) some optimism and encouragement.
“The way football is, there’s always the next game and things can turn around.
“They have to be strong enough and determined enough mentally to look forward and see the next games as an opportunity to put that right, along with the team to give them the service they need.”
