Paul Lambert reacts to Connor Ronan’s Wolves display

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The teenager has a long way to go but he’s certainly made a bright start.

Paul Lambert has told the Express and Star that Connor Ronan’s full Wolves’ debut is the best he has seen from a young player in a long time.

The 18-year-old was handed his first start for the club in Monday’s goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday and lit up the encounter with his flashes of sharp skill and confidence in possession.

The Midlands outfit were unfortunate not to earn three vital points, especially after Owls goalkeeper Kieran Westwood somehow escaped punishment for clattering into Wolves defender Matt Doherty inside the box, but the electric display of Ronan provided Lambert with plenty of optimism at full-time nonetheless.

“Connor Ronan’s was a good as debut as I’ve seen from a young player,” the Scotsman, who has guided Wolves five points clear of the drop zone, told the Express and Star.

“I trust him. I’ve got no fear about playing him. It took me a millisecond to see how good he was.”

Ronan made his senior league debut in December, coming off the bench for the final nine minutes in the 2-0 away win at Nottingham Forest, though the fact that Lambert was so ready and willing to thrust him into an important Championship fixture shows just how highly the manager rates his young attacking midfielder.

The Irish teenager is not the only talented starlet to make his name under Lambert with Nigerian forward Bright Enobakhare also being given an opportunity to prove himself since the former Blackburn boss took over.

Therefore, Wolves’ academy graduates could prove to the club’s owners, Fosun International, that they do not need to waste funds on underperforming loans from across the continent.

A number of the club’s imports have failed to make an impression in recent months and putting faith in the young players within the ranks could earn back the trust of a disenfranchised fanbase while providing a local identity that has been missing in recent seasons.