Wolves finally won in the Premier League, beating West Ham United – and Jermain Defoe showered praise on Mateus Mane on Match of the Day.
Wolves’ long wait for a victory in the top-flight is finally over after the Old Gold produced a terrific display at Molineux.
Rob Edwards’ side were clinical and good on the ball against the Hammers, who are really struggling.
Who was your MOTM during that brilliant 3-0 win for Wolves? 🤩
Jhon Arias and Mane scored their first goals for the club, with Hwang Hee-chan notching his first in several weeks.
It was a performance that some felt had been coming. The displays against Liverpool and Manchester United were highly encouraging, and West Ham have clearly been finding life difficult.
Mane has been stealing all the headlines since the game with his goal and assist – and Jermain Defoe gave the youngster a real compliment on Match of the Day.
Jermain Defoe thinks Mateus Mane looks like he’s been in Wolves’ first-team ‘for years’
Mane was starting for the third game in a row against West Ham.
The teenager’s cameos off the bench had been impressive, so Edwards recently decided to hand him his full debut against Liverpool.
After keeping his place against United, Mane was back starting against West Ham – and he gave his best showing to date.
Playing as a number eight again, Mane was full of confidence. He played a part in all three goals, including scoring the third in superb fashion.
Alan Shearer had praised Mane, and Jermain Defoe also gave a glowing verdict, insisting Mane actually looks like a player who’s been in Wolves’ first-team for years already.
He said on Match of the Day: “For this young man, it was a masterclass in terms of how he played. His desire, he looked like he’s been there for years.
“On a lot of occasions you get young players who are in the 18s or the 21s and they’re the best player, all of a sudden they go to the first-team and their games change a little bit. But if he can excite us like the other Mane that we had in the Premier League, it would be amazing! But what a performance.”
- READ MORE: Five things we learned as Mateus Mane channels Matheus Cunha in Wolves’ 3-0 win vs West Ham
Do you agree with Jermain Defoe about Mateus Mane? 🔥
The teenager has been a breath of fresh air…
Mane a breath of fresh air for Wolves
This is quite the compliment. But Defoe is not wrong when he says Mane looks like he’s been at Wolves for years already.
It is hard to believe that his proper breakthrough only came this season, because he does play in a way that suggests he’s been around for far longer.
Mane plays without fear, which is something that has been badly needed this season.
Far too many players have been inhibited, but the teenager has shown zero signs of that and just wants to make an impression every time he plays.
His confidence is so refreshing, and there is a solid case for him being Wolves’ best player bar none at the moment.
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