Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri can break a record held by Pedro Neto by starting Sunday’s clash against Chelsea.
Wolves began their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Arsenal but can now bounce back at home to Chelsea.
The Wanderers completed a league double over the Blues last term and Gary O’Neil will be confident of recording a third successive victory in this fixture.
In their defeat at the Emirates, new signings Rodrigo Gomes and Jorgen Strand Larsen showed great promise while midfield machine Joao Gomes can exploit Chelsea’s key weakness on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, for the first time since leaving Molineux for £54 million, Wolves could come up against Pedro Neto, who currently holds a Premier League record that Rayan Ait-Nouri has the chance to break.
Rayan Ait-Nouri can become the youngest Wolves player to reach 100 Premier League appearances
Flying full-back Ait-Nouri is one of several players who have seen their development spike under O’Neil’s management, along with Matheus Cunha, Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan.
Last season, the Algerian was one of Wolves’ most important players; not just for his quality on the pitch but for his versatility.
Ait-Nouri was tasked with playing multiple roles, including as a left wing-back, right winger, left winger and even as an attacking midfielder.
The 23-year-old, indeed, looked the part wherever he played and that explains why the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool have shown an interest in Ait-Nouri.
Remarkably, if Ait-Nouri starts against Chelsea, he can become the youngest Wolves player at age 23 and 80 days to make 100 Premier League appearances, a record which currently belongs to Neto, as per BBC Sport.
Rayan Ait-Nouri can be Wolves weapon v Chelsea
In Wolves’ demolition of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in February, Ait-Nouri was arguably one of the best players on the pitch.
Playing in a left wing-back role, the talented Algerian used his searing pace and attacking thrust to wreak havoc against the hosts’ defence.
Ait-Nouri will be looking to offer a similar outlet down the left flank, as O’Neil presumably sets his side up to break quickly in transition and hurt them down the flanks.
The former Angers star started as a natural left-back against Arsenal as Wolves went with a four-man defence but with the protection of Gomes and Mario Lemina, he’ll still be given the license to get forward.
With the visitors focusing their efforts on stopping the likes of Cunha and Rodrigo Gomes, perhaps Ait-Nouri can act as a secret weapon on the wing and deliver a match-winning moment for O’Neil.