Fit-again Kevin McNaughton has hailed fellow Cardiff City full back Adam Matthews as "different class."
Naughts is likely to step in to the City team at Barnsley, replacing Adam, who suffered a groin injury playing for Wales Under-21s in the 2-1 defeat in Bosnia on Wednesday.
Scotland international Kevin has not played in the first team since rupturing ankle ligaments in the pre-season friendly against Celtic, and has seen 17-year-old Matthews step in to take his place.
But he said: "Adam has been different class. I saw him in training last season - he trained with the senior boys a few times - and I didn't realise he was that young because he's got a cool head on him. He has all the attributes to be a great full back. He's definitely one for the future.
"He's got everything. One thing you can't teach young lads is composure and he's got bags of that - he doesn't look fazed at all. He's up against tough opponents so it's great to see him doing well. He's a nice lad as well. He hasn't got a big head and keeps his feet on the ground, which is good to see.
"The problem we have with this young whippersnapper coming through is I might not get back in the team! But it's the same at any club. I got my chance when I was 17 through somebody else being injured. I'm getting a bit older and now young lads are nipping at my heels. It's part and parcel of football - you've got to be strong, try and keep your place and give the manager a headache.
"We've got Paul Quinn there as well who'll be pushing for a place and Tony Capaldi who on his day is a very good full back. At the club just now there is so much competition for full back places and I'm sure Adam feels the same way. He's got to push his way through three or four players.
"Adam is up there with the other young players who have come through at the club like Chris Gunter and Aaaron Ramsey. I wasn't surprised to see him getting the call to the first-team squad. It was only a matter of time. It's good to see Rambo coming on as well - his game seems to be progressing at Arsenal. It really is great to see these guys kicking on.
Naughts revealed: "My time out injured seemed like an eternity and I'm looking forward to being involved again at some point. Ask anybody who has been out for a long time - it's a nightmare. I've not had a long spell out before, just a few weeks here and there.
"It's frustrating but out touch wood everything is well now and I'm looking forward to getting involved. I'm not much good watching games, it's frustrating being a spectator but the boys have done well up till now this season and hopefully I can help us progress.
"If you had told us at start of the season where we'd be now we'd probably have taken it. A lot of new faces came in during the summer and you have to take that into account. It's taken a little bit of time for the team to gel. There have been games where we haven't played well and the consistency hasn't been great, but in terms of the points total, we've done well.
"The defeat at Swansea was disappointing, especially ahead of an international break when you've got two weeks to fester on it. We didn't perform well enough on the day. It's a headache, but now we've got another game to put it behind us."
