Sylvain Deslandes is hoping his introduction into the first team at the end of this season can prove a springboard for more to come in 2016/17/
The French defender, who arrived at Wolves last summer, added to early season starts in the Capital One Cup against Barnet and Middlesbrough with his first league action in the recent games at Hull and home to Rotherham.
And he almost made it a memorable first league start at Molineux, heading inches wide in added time of the goalless draw against the Millers.
“I have been really happy to get to play the league games and I have really enjoyed them,” said Deslandes, who turned 19 on Monday.
“It feels like a long wait because I have been with the squad for a long time but it probably wasn’t something I was expecting to happen this season.
“It was another tough game on Saturday but we played well and created chances.
“We could have got some goals and I think we deserved more than a point.
“I had a couple of chances myself and very nearly scored with a header at the end which would have made it even better!
“Hopefully I can now be involved for the last two games going into the summer and then come back and have a good pre-season.
“If I can do that and carry on working hard then hopefully next season can be a very good one for me.”
Deslandes has been in and around the first team scene for most of the season, and had been a regular unused substitute prior to those first league appearances.
He says that familiarity with the senior players has helped him make what he acknowledges was a slightly surprising – but welcome – step-up to first team level.
“I felt ready to play,” he says.
“I have been training with the first team since pre-season so I knew what to expect with the intensity of the games.
“I have been on the bench many times as well so I had a close look at all of the games.
“I was a little bit surprised to play but in a good way and I was ready and I don’t feel it was above me.
“I just tried to settle in and play my game how I can play and I feel I did o-k.
“I didn’t change anything and tried to play my normal game.
“The gaffer picks a lot of young players and he has given me a lot of confidence every day in training.
“I kept working hard to get my chance and I have to keep doing that now to get more chances.
“When I came in the summer I hoped I might have some experience with the first team but that it would be very difficult.
“I was probably thinking I would have a season with the Under-21 squad and then aim for training with the first team in pre-season.
“So it has worked out very well for me how quickly it has happened.
“Being on the bench and travelling with the team has helped me a lot as it helps get to know the rest of the team and settle in.
“There are no surprises then and I knew what to expect and what was expected of me.
“I really learned from that and it helped me take my chance.”