Wolves boss O'Neil: Chirewea deserved debut

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil insists he has confidence in their young players.

Tawanda Chirewa made his debut in the FA Cup tie with Brentford last weekend.

It was a big call, you don't want to set a young lad up for a fall, throw them on and they make a little mistake or give a free-kick away and Brentford score the winner," O'Neil said when asked about Chirewa's debut.

You don't want to open them up to that but Tawanda has shown enough to me in training and I was comfortable putting him on the pitch in an incredibly important moment in the game.

I'm pleased for him and know the lads were pleased for him to get his debut. It's a big achievement getting a debut in a team and squad as talented as this, when you're a young lad coming through the academy. I'm pleased for him.

I've seen enough to trust him in those situations and Bellegarde was flagging at that point.

The club have made no secret of the financial position we're in this season and I'm not one to complain about it. I understand exactly where it is.

If we have to do well with Tawanda in the team, then it's Tawanda. If it's one of the other young lads, no problem.

We'll play with whoever we think is best and available to us and we'll crack on."