Steve Weaver tells Wolves cubs it's time to step up

Head coach Kenny Jackett has promised his squad will once again bear a 'young and hungry' look next season.

He will look to promote home-grown players from the Category One academy and development coach Steve Weaver believes they are ready to be elevated to a bigger stage.

That's either with Wolves or out on loan to build their experiences, after qualifying for the Elite League section of the FA Premier League Academy.

Weaver said: "The new manager is going to want to take a look at some of the older lads in the development squad – the likes of Jack Price, Liam McAlinden, Zeli Ismail, Lee Evans and Michael Ihiekwe, among others.

"The nucleus of last season's development squad should still be available but, to be fair to the players I've just mentioned, it's time for them to step up.

"But if they're not involved either here or elsewhere at first-team level, they can still play for me.

"Last season's development squad are all still eligible to play for the under-21s but I think it's important they get the taste of working with and around the first-team squad.

"Last season, everyone saw the advantage of having a settled under-21 squad.

"It was great for us to finish in the top eight and it would be good to improve on that.

"But the goal is to see the group of players from last season to move on and play senior football."

Weaver added: "The new lads coming in this summer are Dominic Iorfa, David Moli, Jack Kellerman and Jon Flatt as well as Robbie Parry, who was involved quite a lot last season anyway.

"Sam Winnall and Johnny Gorman have both left the club and David Davis is now very much regarded as a first-team squad member.

"While the standard of under-21 football last season was very high, there's no substitute for senior soccer whether it be here at Wolves or out on loan."

Weaver is looking for players sent out on loan to follow the example of Ethan Ebanks-Landell.

He played 26 games on loan for Bury last season and gained plenty of experience, even though the Shakers were relegated from League One.

Weaver said: "Ethan is a good example. He spent a lot of last season in Bury's first team and you could see the benefit that it was to his game when he returned even though Bury did struggle.

"There is no substitute for experience."

At the moment, the under 21s have three pre-season friendies pencilled in, against Burnley, Birmingham – with dates and venues to be announced.

They are also at Aggborough against Kidderminster Harriers on July 19.