Wolves Under-21 squad have been challenged to continue their early pre-season form as they head to Holland for a two-game tour.
The 20-man squad heads out today after three impressive victories against non-league teams – 5-0 against AFC Wulfrunians, 8-1 against Heather St John’s and 2-1 against Hednesford.
This week’s training camp will see a young Under-21 squad taking on Utrecht on Thursday and PEC Zwolle on Saturday.
“We have been pleased with all the performances,” said coach Scott Sellars.
“Everyone has had a lot of minutes, which is the cliché around pre-season, but it’s the case.
“We have lost a lot of players to the first team and went to Hednesford with a very young team, including a fair few first year pros and some trialists.
“You are never quite sure how that will go but it went well, which is the case for all three games.
“They have come back in good shape – the fitness levels have been very good, and we can see the work we are doing on the training pitch coming through.
“Results have been good and we have scored quite a lot of goals.
“It was good to play in Wolverhampton against AFC Wulfrunians – because we so rarely play in Wolverhampton.
“The fans came out and the lads did really well.
“We went over near Leicester for another good game at Heather St John’s and at Hednesford we were also looked after really well and the pitch was great.
“It was a good and competitive game against a Hednesford side who I think will do really well this year.
“You get different challenges against a mens’ team as they do in the Under-21s and it was great to see them cope with it and get on with it and compete.”
It is that time of pre-season when many of the younger players are given chances with the senior squad, as seen in last night’s friendly in Cork in which goals from Niall Ennis and Bright Enobakhare secured a 2-1 win.
There are also decisions to be made as to whether players are sent out on loan to gain first team experience at a different level.
“There are about nine or ten Under-21s in Cork and that is great experience and exposure for them,” Sellars explains.
“It bodes well for their experience for the future and gives them a chance to try and make an impact at senior level.
“We have also looked at a few trialists as we always do and will keep that going.
“We are in the process of looking to see if some of the lads can get out on loan.
“Regan Upton had a game for Solihull on Saturday and they are in the Conference now so we are hoping something might come of that.
“Like always, it will be about what is best for each player – who needs to play for the Under-21s, who needs to go out on loan.
“Ultimately we will be young again in terms of the team and the league but we are happy with how we do it because it gives the players the chance to break through.”
First off though is this week’s tour, and another valuable experience against two Dutch club’s Under-21s.
“The plan was to play against Utrecht and PEC Zwolle under-21s but the squad we are taking includes a lot of Under-19s,” says Sellars.
“But again it will be great experience for our lads in what will be two really tough games.
“The Under-18s went away with a young squad to their tournament last week but it is pre-season and about giving everyone an opportunity to shine.
“One or two have surprised me with how well they have done who might not have had as many minutes normally.
“Sometimes you don’t really know until you let them play and it has been really pleasing to see the Under-18s come into the group and shine.”
SQUAD: Burgoyne, Sibley, Ball, Simpson, Upton, Osbourne, Breslin, John, Rainey, Finnie, Levingston, Herc, McKenna, Armstrong, Delacoe, Hunte, Randall, Reid, Collins, Gibbs-White.
