Sam Vokes praises Wolves' scouts
SAM Vokes believes Wolves’ flying start to the season is testament, in part, to their ability to spot talent lurking in the lower divisions.
And the youth systems at clubs in those divisions also deserve credit, reckons the 18-year-old who is on the crest of a wave for both club and country right now.
Vokes, who arrived at Molineux from Bournemouth in the summer, has starred for Wolves and Wales in the last fortnight.
He has adapted adroitly to Championship standards after making the step-up from League One football with the Cherries last season.
Vokes joins the likes of Michael Kightly and George Elokobi in the ranks as players who the Wolves scouting system flagged up as ‘worth a punt’ from the lower divisions.
And he is thoroughly enjoying playing his part in a squad with plenty of roots in the often-maligned lower end of senior English football.
“A lot of players at this club have come from teams in the lower divisions,” Vokes said.
“It is a massive step up but it shows that, while the big teams are buying foreign players, there is also a lot of British talent around.
“There is a lot of talent in the lower leagues. I think that proves that clubs’ youth systems are working.
“It was good for me to come to Wolves because other players here have come from the lower leagues and the gaffer is someone who gives people a chance, like he has to me.
“I have developed a great deal here already, even just from the training and the fitness regimes and so on.
“Then playing in the internationals also helped me and, what with playing in the under-21s and having these great experiences with Wolves’ first team, things have gone well.
‘‘Now I have just got to keep working hard and try to keep improving.”
Vokes is no ‘Billy Big Time’ though and still remains in close contact with former colleagues at Bournemouth.
Relegated from League One last season, the Cherries started this term in League Two with a 17-point deduction for going into adminsitration.
While Vokes aims for the Premier League, his old muckers have a battle royal on their hands to stay out of the Conference.
“I still speak to a lot of the lads from Bournemouth,” he said. “I left on good terms and have got a lot of friends down there.
“It’s difficult for them, what with going into administration, but the new gaffer has come in and it is looking a bit brighter for them.”
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