IT might take a little while for Wanderers’ own Fantastic Four to assemble – but Neil Lennon believes it could be worth the wait.

The prospect of Zach Clough, Max Clayton, Josh Vela and Tom Walker lining up together is an appetising one for the Whites boss, whose decision to place emphasis on youth since taking charge has proved a popular and rewarding move.

With Clough and Clayton sidelined with injuries any such move will have to wait until next season, meanwhile Vela and Walker head for Brentford tomorrow very much a part of Lennon’s first-team squad.

Both have experienced their share of testing times in what has been a breakthrough campaign – Vela getting to grips with an unfamiliar right-back role with great success, while Walker has had to play through a sticky patch in the last few weeks.

Lennon is quick to jump to the 19-year-old’s defence, backing him to learn from the experience of off-days against Charlton and Norwich.

“I think in Tom’s case you’ve got to have a little bit of patience,” he told The Bolton News. “He’s a year younger than the rest and he’s got a bit more developing to do.

“But I like him, I think he’s got real potential.

“He’s been a little bit hit-and-miss over the last couple of games but I’ll take the responsibility for that because I’m playing him. I want him to get the experience because it will definitely stand him in good stead for the future.”

Vela, too, endured a wobble in mid-season but recovered handsomely to get himself among the leading contenders for the club’s player-of-the-year award, to be dished out after the Birmingham game.

After so long waiting for youngsters to make the grade, Wanderers fans could have four to hang their hat on next term – and Lennon looks forward to putting them through their paces.

“Vela has been very good, I like Clayton from what I first saw of him when I came in, and Clough is a terrific player,” he said.

“I’m not pinning all my hopes on him but I think that kid could be a very valuable asset for us going forward. I want to get him back in the team next season.

“He hit the ground running with six goals in 10 games but not only that, his all-round play was quality.

“We’ve got all that to look forward to. We’ve got three there we didn’t have before October and that’s a huge positive for me.

“I think in this economic climate it’s important we develop our own anyway. We’ve invested heavily in the academy and now we’re starting to see the fruits of that.”

While Wanderers have Crewe to thank for Clayton, who was brought to the club by Lennon’s predecessor Dougie Freedman, Vela, Clough and Walker are 100-per-cent homespun products.

Lennon notes that being an academy graduate can carry its own pressures – but believes the fans have responded well to seeing the youngsters blooded this season.

“I think fans always take that little bit more pride in seeing one of their own coming through the ranks,” he said.

“That’s a natural response and I’ve experienced that at other clubs.

“Sometimes they can be a little bit harder but I think in the main they see him as theirs.”