Teenage starlet Luke Cundle could be set to enjoy a breakthrough season at Wolverhampton Wanderers, according to Express & Star reporter Luke Hatfield.
What's the latest news involving Cundle?
The 19-year-old was an unused substitute six times under previous Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo in the top flight last season.
He also failed to make it off the bench during the FA Cup fifth round defeat to Southampton last term.
But former Benfica chief Bruno Lage, who was named as Nuno's successor in June, has shown the door remains open for Cundle as he was named in the matchday squad for Wolves' opening three Premier League fixtures of the campaign.
Cundle was also handed the second first-team appearance of his career when Wolves overcame Championship side Nottingham Forest in the second round of the League Cup last month.
What has Luke Hatfield said about Cundle?
Lage only has four central midfielders - in the form of Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Leander Dendoncker and the injured Bruno Jordao - at his disposal.
As a result, Wolves reporter Hatfield believes teen ace Cundle could be set to enjoy more first-team opportunities.
He told GMS: "They've got a lot of youngsters in the ranks. They're probably looking at who could potentially make an impact at first-team level and I think Luke Cundle is maybe one.
"He is probably one they are looking at and maybe he could break through if they need cover.
"If push comes to shove and they need an extra body in their midfield, Luke Cundle is one they may be eyeing up."
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Who stands in Cundle's way when it comes to breaking into Wolves' midfield?
Cundle has made a positive start to the season with Wolves' under-23s, making three Premier League 2 appearances and scoring in the stalemate with Burnley last week.
He also played the full 90 minutes as Wolves' youngsters overcame League One side Wigan Athletic in the EFL Trophy.
However, Cundle needs to remain patient and it will take time before he is considered a regular in the first-team picture as some vastly experienced individuals are ahead of him in the pecking order.
Neves has played every minute of Wolves' Premier League campaign this season, while fellow Portugal international Moutinho has started all five of the club's encounters so far.
While Belgian defensive midfielder Dendoncker has been restricted to just two substitute appearances in the top flight, he has featured 123 times since moving to Molineux from Belgian side Anderlecht in 2018.