When you are still only 16 and your club spends a record £6.25m on Kevin Doyle to supplement their array of strikers, the last place James Spray expected to be was on the substitutes bench at Wolverhampton Wanderers this season.After only 10 appearances and four goals for Wolves' under-18 team and facing competition in the shape of Doyle, Chris Iwelumo, Sylvain Ebanks-Blake and Andy Keogh, Spray was expecting another season of hard toil in his age group and possibly a few reserve team outings.
So, although he was involved in senior pre-season friendlies against Port Vale and Walsall, the teenager could not have envisaged a surprise call from manager Mick McCarthy for the Premier League trip to Wigan Athletic.
Spray dashed around to find tickets for his parents, found himself rooming with Richard Stearman and was among the substitutes when Wolves achieved their first away win in the top flight for 25 years.
It was a major boost for the youngster who helped Wolves to the under-17 title at the Gothia World Youth Cup in Sweden in the summer - and left him craving more first team action.
Spray set up the equaliser against Brazilian side Cruzeiro EC before Wolves won the competition in a penalty shoot-out, but even his delight at that victory was eclipsed when he found himself in the Premier League squad.
"It has all been a bit mad really. I never expected anything like this to happen to me so quickly. I was hoping for a few reserve games and maybe some training with the first team," said Spray.
"It was great to be on the bench for that game and get a taste of what happens. Of course that leaves you wanting more, but I will keep my feet on the ground and work hard to learn all I can.
"I suppose being put in the squad shows that I am doing something that the gaffer likes and hopefully I will get the chance of some first team football as I get older."
The powerfully built six-footer is the closest thing Wolves have come to producing the type of local hero role filled by Steve Bull in the late 80s and earlier 90s, but admits he struggled with the transition from schoolboy football to Academy life at Molineux.
"I found it hard to make that step up to begin with, but I have had a lot of backing from my parents and my late grandfather Ken Spray. I dedicate all my performances to him every time I step on the pitch," added Spray, who had an unsuccessful trial at Molineux before being offered an Academy place.
It is a decision that looks like paying dividends for the Midlands club. Remember the name - James Spray. FanHouse expect you to be hearing a lot more about him in the future.
