Wolves defender Dexter Lembikisa praised for going from 'also rans' to top academy graduate

Lembikisa, who joined the club as a nine-year old, was handed his bow just five days after his 19th birthday. Then just three days later, he made his Premier League debut in the 68th minute against Arsenal at Molineux.

Earlier this summer the defender insisted he was open to a loan move away from the club - with Burton Albion previously linked with an approach.

It has been a sharp rise for the defender - and one of his Wolves academy coaches has praised his 'attitude and dedication', that has aided his rise into the first team picture.

Former Tranmere, Rotherham and Shrewsbury defender Ian Sharps, who works with the under 16 and 18 sides at the club, insisted the defender's hard work moved him to become one of the top performers in his age group, and then on to his first team debut.

Speaking about his role in the Wolves academy on the Shropshire Star's Shrews Views podcast, he said: "Dexter Lembikisa is one of the major ones for me.

"He was doing okay in the under 16s, but he showed brilliant attitude and dedication to his profession.

"It put from being in the also rans in the group to one of the top ones in the group.

"He is a player who constantly works on their game, and they are the kind of players you want to coach and you really want to get better."

During the episode, which is available on Soundcloud, Spotify and Apple from Monday, Sharps, who stepped in to take charge of the under 21s last season, when James Collins moved to help Steve Davis in interim charge of the first team, discusses how the academy coaches' role stretches beyond preparing the players to just make it at Wolves.

He explained: "Each individual has different abilities and qualities, and they are not all going to make it as players in the Premier League.

"But if they don't, we need to try and make sure they enjoy their experience and do go on to achieve something."