Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Glenn Hoddle faces the same sort of selection poser at Molineux tonight that he, as a player, used to give England managers.

Hot teenage prospect Mark Davies appears ready for his first Championship start against Derby County but Hoddle still has a private concern that it may be too soon for the 17-year-old midfielder to be tested over 90 minutes. Hoddle feels that he is best left to deliver a few more "Champagne moments" from the bench.

So far Davies has been limited to a couple of starts in this season's two Carling Cup games. But he has impressed most in his five appearances from the bench and was a big part of the second-half side who helped save a little face at Bramall Lane in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Championship leaders Sheffield United.

The Telford-born teenager did so well in a near halfhour cameo, setting up one great late chance for Carl Cort.

In the continued absence of captain Paul Ince, and with Rohan Ricketts still a doubt after turning his ankle in training last week, the Wolves boss is tempted to give Davies a proper run-out.

But, in the same way fingers were once pointed at Hoddle for the way he faded in and out of games in his own playing days, Hoddle the manager must decide whether he is ready to trust the latest star graduate of Wolves' Academy team over 90 minutes.

"That's an option we might have tomorrow or against Preston at the weekend," admitted Hoddle. "But you can't put too much pressure on the lad.

"He's been talked up around the club, but if you give somebody a start you've got to know they're ready for the 90 minutes.

"Young Sparky's a good prospect, with a lot of years ahead of him. But we've got to nurse him in. The boy's still got a lot to learn.

"He's a talented player and has showed what he can do. But what he is not yet doing, probably because of his age, is sustaining it over 90 minutes.

"He plays in little fits and starts. He gives you a few of what one of my old coaches Peter Shreeve used to call 'Champagne moments'.

"But we want to see more of those moments when he does something special, like we saw on Saturday, his assist for Colin Cameron's goal against Chester or like we see from him in the reserves every week.

"It's a case of getting greater consistency. We want him on the ball more. But it takes time for a youngster to demand the ball in the first team."

One man looking sure to return alongside acting captain Mark Kennedy against in Hoddle's preferred three-man midfield formation is Darren Anderton.

The former England midfielder was rushed back from the shin injury, which has kept him out for the past month, and given a on the bench at Bramall Lane, only to be summoned at half-time to replace Seyi Olofinjana.

Anderton did enough to persuade Hoddle to start him tonight against mid-table Rams in a bid to spark a team who have lost consecutive matches. And, if Ricketts fails a test on his ankle, then the Wolves boss could do worse than take a gamble on young Davies.