Former Glenavon goalkeeper Josh Gracey has been rewarded for his fine start with Wolves by penning his first professional deal with the Premier League outfit.

The 17-year-old made the switch from Mourneview Park to Molineux last year and his impressed for Richard Walker’s under-18s this season as a first-year scholar.

So much that Gracey has now put pen to paper on a first pro deal with Wolves academy manager for football, Jon Hunter-Barrett, quick to highlight the young stopper's progression.

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“As always, we’re delighted to reward talent, hard work and commitment when it’s in front of us," he told the Wolves official website. "That opportunity was there for Josh so that’s why we wanted to do it. He has progressed tremendously from when he first came across to what we see now.

“Josh has grown so much in confidence and presence around his goal, so we’re really happy with him in that respect. We want to continually try to challenge him and drive that level of improvement for what’s going to be required to be a goalkeeper.”

Gracey has played in all nine of Wolves Under-18 Premier League games so far this season and also got his first taste of U21 action after being handed a start in their 3-2 EFL Trophy defeat to League Two side Salford City.

The teenager has also featured at international level with Northern Ireland’s under-19s and played in September's friendly against Sweden for Gareth McAuley’s side.

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