Gary O’Neil has hailed Joao Gomes as a ‘super talent’, with the Brazilian having made a fine start to the new season for Wolves.
Gomes has become a mainstay in Wolves’ midfield following the departure of Ruben Neves in the summer.
He and Mario Lemina have formed a good partnership in the engine room, with the pair known for their aggression and ball-winning.
It is a very different flavour to Neves and Joao Moutinho, which was the midfield pairing for years at Molineux. But many Wolves fans are enjoying the new dynamic.
Gomes showed signs of his quality last season, but he has now been given the game time to allow him to flourish – and O’Neil is really pleased with the youngster.
Gary O’Neil hails Joao Gomes following his start to 2023/24 for Wolves
O’Neil has put his faith in Gomes since the very start of the season.
The former Flamengo man has started all eight of Wolves’ games so far and looks totally at home in the Premier League.
O’Neil said of the South American: “He’s a super talent. There’s that language barrier as well that he works hard on.
“He’s been very impressive. At his age and with his lack of experience of Premier League football, it’s still something you have to work with him on and try to improve, but as a starting point with the qualities he has, he’s at a very, very good level.”
Wolves’ number two Dan Bentley said in the summer that the Wolves players were working with Gomes to help improve his English.
Joao Gomes relishing more game time at Wolves
Gomes deserves a lot of credit for the way he has started the new season.
Taking the number eight shirt after Neves left was a bold move, but he’s looked very comfortable in it.
Watching Gomes play, you would not think that he’s a young player that’s only been in England for 10 months.
He is certainly looking more and more comfortable, and that partnership with Lemina is getting better and better.