Wolves Youth Preview 2021/22
Wolves have come a long way as a club in a short space of time. Their relationship with super-agent Jorge Mendes has led to the not-undeserved title of ‘Little Portugal’ and they’ve continued to build upon it with this year’s signing of Trincao.
At youth level, it is fair to say the academy is still catching up with the progress. Morgan Gibbs-White stalled when he reached the first team and it has been difficult to get many to follow his path with the minutes going to young players who have been bought in such as Pedro Neto, Fabio Silva, Rayan Ait Nouri and Ki-Jana Hoever.
However, gradually this could be changing as a few talented prospects finally look to be emerging directly from the youth set up. Dion Sanderson impressed at Sunderland last season and has already headed out to Birmingham for the coming year while, in the U18s, Temple Ojinnaka became a regular at just fifteen years old. U18 captain, Ollie Tipton, got eight goals from centre back as a schoolboy.
Leading the charge for first team action in 21/22 however are the trio of Owen Otasowie, Theo Corbeanu and Lewis Richards.
| U23 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Position | |
| GK | Andreas Sondergaard |
| CB | Lewis Richards |
| CB | Pascal Juan Estrada |
| RB | Luke Matheson |
| LB | Hugo Bueno |
| CM | Luke Cundle |
| CM | Taylor Perry |
| CM | Owen Otasowie |
| RW | Lee Harkin |
| LW | Conor Carty |
| CF | Austin Samuels |
| U18 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Position | |
| GK | Palmi Rafn Arinbjornsson |
| CB | Ollie Tipton |
| CB | Justin Hubner |
| RB | Harry Birtwhistle |
| LB | Aaron Keto-Diyawa |
| CM | Ackeme Francis-Burrell |
| CM | Temple Ojinnaka |
| CM | Dylan Scicluna |
| RW | Tyler Roberts |
| LW | Ty Barnett |
| CF | Owen Farmer |
Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022
Owen Otasowie
- Position: DM
- Age: 20
- Nationality: American
Owen Otasowie is a versatile American midfielder who also has the ability to drop into centre back, particularly in a three man defence system. He is a physically imposing figure, gifted athlete who has had no problems with the demands of Premier League football in his brief cameos to date. Although often deployed as a central defender in the Wolves’ U23 team, he has a tendency to throw himself into tackles which makes a shielding midfield role fit his skillset more readily at Premier League level. He isn’t exactly quick but he has long legs which allow him to cover ground effectively. Otasowie has reportedly impressed new manager Bruno Lage in pre-season and will hope to build on his 185 Premier League minutes in 20/21.
Theo Corbeanu (on loan to Sheffield Wednesday)
- Position: RW
- Age: 19
- Nationality: Canadian
Canadian international Corbeanu made his Wolves debut last season and the talented winger has every chance to get more opportunities this coming year. Although he is missing from Wolves’ pre-season tour (due to being in the Canadian National team at the Gold Cup) he will have time this season to impress his new coaching staff. Versatile enough to play across the frontline but he is most comfortable as a right winger where he uses skill and his two-footedness to beat defenders, rather than relying on pace. He scored seven goals last season from a wide position and will now be given his first chance at first team football in a season long loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday.
Lewis Richards
- Position: CB
- Age: 19
- Nationality: Irish
Having won the Wolves Academy Player of the Year award last season and managing to make the bench ten times, defender Lewis Richards looks set to breakthrough at Wolves in the near future (if he doesn’t head on loan). The Irish U21 international has signed a professional contract and is strongly tipped to compete for a first team position having received high praise from various senior members of the Wolves staff. As a left sided centre back with good technical and aerial traits he is a very similar type of player to another Wolves graduate, Joleon Lescott. Although there is a definite increase in the number of left footed defenders coming through English academies, it is still a fairly rare trait and gives Richards a great opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Lescott as his career develops.