Norman Bell's link to Wolves v Villa

Norman Bell - the last striker to score for Wolves when they beat Villa - believes his old club have answered their problems in front of goal.

At 54, Bell's age is a giveaway at how long it's been since Wolves go the better of their neighbours from down the M6.

It was 10 March 1980 to be exact - that's 16 games over 30 years since gold and black last triumphed over claret and blue - in a 3-1 win at Villa Park five days before Wolves' League Cup final success against Nottingham Forest at Wembley.

Back then, Wolves had two of the country's deadliest strikers blocking Bell's path in Andy Gray and John Richards.

Fast forward three decades and Wolves were the lowest scorers in the Premier League with 32 goals last season.

But the arrival of first Kevin Doyle 14 months ago and Steven Fletcher this summer have addressed the shortage, with Wolves having scored in all seven games this season.

Fletcher has hit three in all competitions, while Doyle got off the mark with a brace in Tuesday's 4-2 Carling Cup win over Notts County.

Bell, who made his league debut for Wolves against Villa 35 years ago yesterday in September 1975, has been impressed by Wolves' dangerous duo.

He said: "From what I've seen, Kevin Doyle is a tremendous player and I was impressed when I saw Steven Fletcher, ironically for Burnley against Wolves last season.

"Steven did well and was well regarded at Burnley and I'm sure he'll prove himself to be an important player for Wolves.

"They've got good players, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake took a while to find his feet in the Premier League, but then it's such a step-up from the Championship.

"But with strikers, it's a confidence thing and if you can get on a good run like he has, it can transform you as a player.

"Sylvan and Fletcher seemed to have settled well and it's only a matter of time before Doyle scores in the league."

Bell believes Wolves are closing the gap on their illustrious neighbours, as they look to progress after 30 years of hurt.

He said: "It certainly looks that way. Premier League survival means so much and it's been an incredible period for Wolves.

"I always thought of Wolves as one of the top six clubs in the country - up there with Manchester United and Arsenal.

"They fell away for a lot of years and it's taken a lot of years to re-establish themselves, but there's been a lot of investment and Mick McCarthy is getting things right on the pitch.

"They're becoming a good team again. It's not realistic to see them as a force in the Premier League yet but if they can have a few cup runs that will get the fans' interest, just like it did in the 1970s and early 80s and help bring the glory days back.

"It's a great club with a superb stadium - I didn't know they were looking to redevelop the ground but it shows they're a Premier League set-up and that they're on their way to becoming a top club again.

"Success in football goes around in cycles but so much depends on what investment goes into the club."

Bell believes the stability behind the scenes and developing squad are a throwback to the early 1970s, when he joined Wolves.

He said: "When I first went to Wolves, there were hardly any changes to the team - they were household names at the time who rolled off the tongue.

"That's what stability does for you and it looks like Wolves are getting back to that with the younger players they have signed under Mick, who knows what he's doing."

Bell tries to get to watch Wolves whenever they are in the North West, certainly if they are on TV, he's already gearing up for his next look at his old team.

He said: "I was supposed to be in Wolverhampton a few weeks ago for the re-opening of our old training ground at Castlecroft, but I couldn't make it.

"But I'm already looking at the Wigan game a week on Saturday."