MUCH praise has been heaped on the impact the old guard has had on Wanderers' impressive campaign this season.

But at the other end of the age range the vibrancy of youth has also played a huge part in getting Wanderers where they are today.

Players making their way in the game like Kevin Nolan, Leam Richardson, Michael Ricketts and Ricardo Gardner have all proved they have plenty to offer.

And with Dean Holden back in action after a year out the average age of the side could come down further next term.

The latest young gun to hit the first team is defender Richardson.

The fiesty full-back, signed from Blackburn last summer after progressing through the Ewood Park academy, has been in and around the squad all season but really came to the fore in the run-in.

Successsve performances against Forest, Wimbledon, Stockport and Birmingham showed Wanderers fans what a committed little performer he is and left a bruise or two on the shins of a few opponents.

Campaigns

Gardner is hardly new to the scene having already played in a World Cup and two First Division promotion campaigns for Wanderers.

But, at the tender age of 22, he is still at the development stage of his career as is Michael Ricketts.

Also 22, Ricketts has been a sensation in only his second full season in the game. A £400,000 signing from Walsall in the summer, the outlay has proved one of the bargains of the season in England with the powerful and pacey striker proving himself in front of goal with more than 20 goals despite spending almost as much time on the bench as on the pitch this season.

He is another who is at the fledgling stage of his development and the experience he has gained this season combined with his physical and technical progress suggest Wanderers could have a star in the making.

Another who falls into that category is midfielder Kevin Nolan.

At just 18 the former youth player is the baby of the side but has shown he is big enough to hold his own in the rough and tumble of a First Division promotion campaign this season.

Nolan has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame this season, his rapid development enabling him to virtually skip the youth and reserve teams and learn his trade in the first team set-up.

He spent time in the senior squad last season but his appearances were limited to five inclusions on the bench, coming on in four of them.

It has been a different story this term with the teenager making a midfield berth his own. And with Wanderers enjoying such a superb season, the misery of losing was virtually foreign to him and, when he suffered a serious bad result at Blackburn in the FA Cup, he admitted he found it difficult to cope with.

"I have been made up with my progress," enthuses the England youth player.

"This is a learning curve for me."

"I have not got used to losing with this team and I found it very hard to take when we lost at Blackburn.

"All the lads are getting behind me and looking after me."

While he found it frustrating watching from the sidelines so much last season, he admits Sam Allardyce's softly-softly approach in introducing him into the first team has benefited him in the longer term.

Progress

He believes last season's gently-does-it policy has paid dividends with his progress this season which he says has surprised even himself.

"The manager has done a great job for me in bringing me through slowly," he declares.

"It was a bit annoying when I was not getting in the team last season because when you have had a taste of the first team you want it all the time.

"But it is paying off now. I have got to be happy with the way things have been going for me. I have surprised myself and I cannot thank the manager enough for what he has done fo rme.

"He has given me the experience of playing with so many great players."