Wolves may well consider sending one of their most promising youngsters out on loan this summer, with Liam Keen suggesting a move to a League One club could be on the cards.
Gary O’Neil has been forced to turn to youth several times this season, with key players picking up injuries just as Wolves were in the ascendency.
Matheus Cunha, Pedro Neto and Hwang Hee-chan all got hamstring injuries, and the likes of Craig Dawson and Jean Ricner-Bellegarde have also been on the sidelines.
The injuries to the attackers were particularly crippling for Wolves.
The trio had been so good in the first half of the season, and things became very tough when they were all out at the same time.
One player O’Neil turned to amid the crisis was striker Nathan Fraser – and journalist Liam Keen has spoken about what the summer could hold for the teenager…
Wolves could send Nathan Fraser on loan to a club in League One next season
Fraser made his Wolves debut earlier this season in the Carabao Cup against Blackpool.
It was a proud moment for the 19-year-old, who also managed to get himself a goal. Fraser would then make his Premier League debut against Manchester United on January 2.
His first start for the club came against Fulham on March 9 and to date, he has made 11 appearances for the first-team.
He would most definitely have taken that at the start of the season. But with key players like Cunha and Hwang having now returned, minutes are likely to be scarce in the final three games
There will not be many chances for him to impress O’Neil, and it may well be that a loan move is on the cards this summer. And in the eyes of Keen, a move to a League One club might be the plan.
Asked if a Championship loan was viable, he said in a new video for Shots TV: “He needs a loan, he needs to play, he needs to go and score goals. If he does that, in a year or two then there might be another massive leap in his progression. He could go on and play Premier League football again.
“At the moment, he’s in that stage where he’s got a few things to go right for him and a few bits of luck.”
“It’s a tough balancing act for Wolves to find here. There’s so many things that go into it. Style of football, where that team may or may not be in the league.
“They’ve got to try and find the best fit amongst all these different teams. They’re going to have to compromise on a few things to find that. For me, there were clubs that were interested from Championship and League One previously, League One was probably more serious.
“I would say a good League One side that are going to play towards the top end of the table and also give him minutes he needs and deserves, would probably be the best for him at this stage.”
Fraser needs loan
Hopefully Fraser will get himself a good loan move this summer as this will do wonders for his development.
It is great that the ‘powerful and direct’ starlet has been able to dip his toe in the Premier League and world of first-team football for Wolves. But as talented as he is, he needs to go out and get that experience of men’s football on a regular basis.
Fraser had actually been lined up to move to Shrewsbury Town in January. But the move did not come to fruition in the end, with Wolves unable to let him leave after already letting Sasa Kalajdzic and Fabio Silva go.
And the club couldn’t bring in a new number nine, as was well documented.
Fraser therefore had to stay, and it’s been tough for him. He’s done his best, but a loan move would most definitely be the best plan for next season.