Danny Senda has praised Wanderers for building their promotion push around young players – singling out their work with Alfie Mawson for special praise.

The ex-Wycombe defender, who made 315 appearances for the club, is currently an academy coach at Championship outfit Brentford – a team that Blues have a growing affiliation with.

Alfie Mawson, Nico Yennaris and Sam Saunders are currently on loan at Wanderers from the Bees, and it is the development of Mawson, who Senda coached in pre-season, which has impressed those at his parent club.

“Alfie’s really had a fantastic season which is very pleasing to see,” he said.

“We’re quite good at getting out to clubs that our players are at and we’ve had nothing but glowing reports coming back about Alfie from day one.

“With all the feedback we’ve been getting from the coaching staff at Wycombe there’s been nothing but positives. I can’t speak for the first team department but I’m pretty sure that Jon De Souza (youth team manager) and Lee Carsley (development squad manager) are fully aware of what Aflie has done this season.”

After injury ended his playing career in 2012, Senda took a year out of the game before a phone call from Brentford’s head of academy coaching, Stuart English, persuaded him to return to football.

The 34-year-old began his coaching career at the foundation phase (under-10s and under) before progressing to his current role where he works with the club’s under-18 and under-21 teams as well as other age groups.

As part of the learning process Senda undertook a study visit to Wanderers’ training ground three weeks ago and he was impressed by what he saw.

The former Chairboy said: “You can have opinions from afar about how things are going at a football club and I’d imagine that one or two eyebrows have been raised this season about how the club was going last season to where it is now.

“It was a small insight into how things are being run at the club at the moment and I was hugely impressed with how together the squad was, the understanding and plans that the coaching staff have and the work that Gareth has put into the squad.

“They understand where they are, the players understand where they are and it was just pleasing to see from a coaching perspective and a personal perspective to see why they are where they are.”

Gareth Ainsworth and his staff have put their faith in youth this season and against Northampton on Saturday nine of the 17 man matchday squad were under the age of 22 – an approach which Senda applauded.

“I had a good chat with Richard about and that’s his background before the club, unfortunately, decided to pack the academy up,” he said.

“He’s got a real belief in youth players and that shone through. It’s helped the club with limitations of the budget. They’ve turned to young players and they’ve delivered.

“It just shows that if you put your faith in young players and fill them with confidence there are rewards you can get back.”

Senda, who represented Wanderers from 1999 to 2006, looks back fondly on his time at Adams Park and says he is still in touch with Matt Bloomfield – the only squad member remaining from his time at the club.

With his current employers and his former team both in the play-offs, Senda is hoping to make two trips to Wembley in May.

“It’s my club,” he said when reflecting on his time at Blues.

“It’s not only the amount of games that I played but all the people that I met who are now lifelong friends. My father-in-law is a Wycombe fan and has been his entire life, my son goes to watch the club and I would say it’s my club.

“It’s a big part of my life. I had so many good times at Wycombe and I met so many good people there, so I really do hold the club close to my heart.”