Collins praises Roberts and Fraser’s performances for Under 23 side

Wolves are all but through to the last 16 of the Premier League Cup after a 0-0 draw with West Ham.

James Collins’ side recovered from recent disappointing performance and poor results against Fulham and Norwich against a decent Hammers side.

In an interview with club media, Collins had particular praise for teenage forwards Tyler Roberts and Nathan Fraser.

“I just said to Tinks (Roberts) and Nathan [Fraser] in there, I thought they were excellent,” said Collins.

“Tinks nearly scored, and they came on and they’ve got to be really accustomed and tuned in to what their role is without the ball, because at first-team level, that matters.

“Maybe at 15, 16, 17 it doesn’t, but once you get to under-23s and first-team level, that matters, and I thought they started to pick it up really well. They’re inquisitive to how they can do it better and that’s all you want as a coach.

“You want them to want to learn, you want them to want to get better, and they definitely do, and that’s credit to the younger age group coaches at the academy, so when they come to us, at such a young age, they’re equipped to adapt to the tactical elements of the game, so credit to Steve [Davis] and all those who have taken them at a younger age.”

Roberts recently signed his first professional contract with Wolves, which underlines the regard in which he is held at Molineux.

He also said that Wolves can go all the way in another cup competition this year – the FA Youth Cup – in which Wolves recently beat Salford.

Fellow teenager Fraser has played nine times in the Under-18 Premier League this term, scoring once, to go with a goal in that aforementioned game with Salford.

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