Niall Ennis is not getting carried away by his first senior Wolves experience - nor indeed his first goal – as he aims to get back to his best after injury.
The 17-year-old striker, who played a half of the behind-closed-doors friendly with Shrewsbury, took just four minutes of Monday’s game with Cork City to open his account for the campaign, having been sidelined for six months with a fractured fibula.
Ennis is one of a number of young players with the first team squad at this week’s training camp at Fota Island in Cork.
“It has been a good experience for me and is a nice achievement to be with the first team at my age,” he says.
“I am just trying to take advantage of it and learn as much as I can from the players.
“The senior players have made it easy for me.
“While I was injured they were talking to me asking how I was getting on and now I am here, they have made me feel really welcome and I feel involved.
“I was over the moon to get the goal on Monday but just happy that we got the win with a good performance and that the team showed character.
“It feels really good to be back out there now.
“It was six months since my last game and I am just happy I am back on the pitch doing what I love.
“It was my first goal for six months – my last one was for the 18s and this was my first for the first team.
“You could see from my celebration – I didn’t really know what to do!”
The goal aside, Ennis is also making the most of the opportunities afforded this pre-season in terms of going up against Wolves’ senior defenders in training.
“It is good experience for me to be training against first team defenders,” he confirms.
“If I want to push into the first team, I need to understand how they work and what I need to do physical-wise.
“It is tougher than the younger age groups and I have to stay mentally strong because not everything will go right for me.
“I need to keep trying and hopefully one day it will all come off for me.”
His message is clear – keep on working and keep developing so that if a first team opportunity comes along in the regular season, he is ready.
“There is always work to be done,” he adds.
“I need to get my sharpness back and it is good to be back for pre-season because that is when everyone is working hard and looking ahead to the season.
“I am at a good stage – but there is always room for improvement.
“I need to carry on doing what I am doing.
“If I don’t get into the first team straightaway there is no rush – I am still young.
“I want to get goals and good performances whichever age group I am playing for.
“And I am keeping my feet on the floor because you never know what is around the corner.
“I got an injury out of nothing so I just have to stay grounded, stay positive, and keep working hard.”
