Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O'Neil has suggested that he has no intention of rushing the development of Nathan Fraser.
During the first half of the January transfer window, Wolves allowed each of Fabio Silva and Sasa Kalajdzic to go out on loan to Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.
While those decisions were taken for the pair to earn regular first-team football elsewhere, it also benefitted Wolves' well-documented FFP situation.
Although O'Neil has also indicated that work is being conducted behind the scenes to acquire at least one alternative, Fraser has moved himself into the reckoning this week.
With Hwang Hee-chan also away on international duty, the academy graduate was required to take his spot on the substitutes' bench for Tuesday's FA Cup third-round replay with Brentford.
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Immediately after his introduction with Wolves 2-1 down, Fraser made an impact, driving a low shot into the bottom corner of the net from 12 yards out.
Wolves subsequently went on to prevail by a 3-2 scoreline, setting up a fourth-round date at rivals West Bromwich Albion, and supporters are now hopeful that the teenager will be provided with more opportunities.
However, O'Neil has insisted that now is not the right time to heavily use Fraser, who only turned 18 in December and has just 107 minutes of first-team football under his belt.
Speaking to reporters, as quoted by BBC Sport, O'Neil said: "We have been trying to bring in a number nine since the day I arrived. We are trying to find something that fits where we are financially but also that helps, which is hard.
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"It is important we don't expect too much from Nathan. The Premier League is a tough place to play as a number nine when you are 18.
"I am sure we will get at least one done up there but always with the best interests of the long-term future of the club in our minds as well."
Injury has also restricted Fraser to 10 appearances this season when you take into account appearances made in the EFL Cup, EFL Trophy and Premier League 2.
Wolves have recently been linked with the likes of West Ham United's Danny Ings and Paris Saint-Germain's Hugo Ekitike, as well as Chelsea's Armando Broja as recently as yesterday.
Darren Plant
