New contract and loan plan for teenage Wolves striker whose Ireland future is up in the air

Wolves have handed teenage striker Nathan Fraser a four-year contract, with the option of another year, and are set to send him out on loan next season.

The English-born youngster, capped at Under-19 level for Ireland, is likely to find himself playing in the Championship for a year as he bids to add to his first-team experience.

Fraser made 10 appearances for Wolves last season, including six in the Premier League, and scored twice.

READ MORE: Ireland U21 star leaves Celtic to sign long-term deal with Watford

READ MORE:Another endorsement for John O'Shea as former international gives backing to interim boss

Speaking about the 19-year-old, who has been at Wolves since the age of seven, the club’s Sporting Director Matt Hobbs said: “He’s coming to an important stage of his career, where he’s really got to kickstart it and define what that career will look like.

“The plan this season will be for Nathan to go out on loan. I think it’s important now he’s had a taste of men’s football that he gets as much game time as possible under his belt in the league.

“It’ll be a case of getting him out playing games this year and see how he develops doing that.”

At international level, Fraser asked to be left out of Jim Crawford’s Under-21 squad in March, with the Ireland boss explaining: “I had that conversation with him about coming in and the training won’t be too taxing. We’re preparing for a game and (would) take everybody’s loads into consideration.

“He had a good think about it. There were a few text messages, more conversations around it but he came back and said he’d spoken to certain people.

“The silver lining is he wants to commit to Ireland going forward. That’s his decision. There’s nothing more I can do. I’m not going to get aggressive with him or challenge him. If that’s the way it is, I’ll respect it.

“It gives others opportunities to come in.”

However, Fraser wasn’t included again for the June friendlies against Croatia and England, amid reports that he again chose not to be included.

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.