The Wolves academy has borne fruit in recent times with quite a few players going on to make their first-team debuts – Tawanda Chirewa was one such player, and today, he showed his class for the U21s.
Several great young players have really impressed playing for the club’s U21s.
Hugo Bueno is perhaps the most successful player to have emerged from the academy in recent times, with the Spaniard breaking through last season.
We’ve also seen the likes of Luke Cundle, Joe Hodge and Nathan Fraser have impacts.
And it looks as though another top young talent is emerging at Wolves, with Tawanda Chirewa putting in a fine performance today for James Collins’ side…
Tawanda Chirewa wows for Wolves’ U21s with brace including stunning goal
Wolves signed Tawanda Chirewa last year, bringing the 20-year-old in from Ipswich Town.
Chirewa quickly made an impression, and within just weeks of him signing for the club he had been invited to start training with the first-team.
So he has been on Gary O’Neil‘s radar, and last month, the manager actually did hand Chirewa his debut in the FA Cup against Brentford. It was only a very short cameo at the end, but a proud moment nonetheless for Chirewa.
He then featured for a little longer in the replay against the Bees, and made his Premier League debut against Brighton.
So it’s clear this is a young player with a lot of ability – and today for the U21s, Chirewa showcased it as he hit a brace.
Wolves played out a 3-3 draw with Manchester City, and Chirewa opened the scoring in superb fashion. The ball was poorly cleared away to him on the edge of the area and after chesting the ball, he shifted it to his left before unleashing a fierce drive into the roof of the net with his left foot.
Chirewa then stepped up to double Wolves’ lead from the penalty spot, after Justin Hubner was fouled in the area.
Tawanda Chirewa looks an exciting prospect
Chirewa’s first goal today was top quality and the club do seem to have a very bright prospect on their hands indeed.
Wolves’ Head of UK academy recruitment Harry Hooman called the youngster when he signed (via Wolves official) ‘an athletic, talented player with the ability to score and create goals’ and also said the club feel ‘he has the attributes and potential to do well for us both in the short and long-term’.
O’Neil said back in November that Chirewa had ‘progressed really well’, so the manager definitely has an eye on him.
With Wolves not having too much squad depth, there is potential for Chirewa to make more of an impact for the first-team in the coming weeks.