Former Molineux full-back Andy Thompson praised Fabio Silva for his efforts against Aston Villa on Saturday.
The teenager was starting in place of the suspended Raul Jimenez at Molineux.
Silva has had to bide his time for chances this season.
Jimenez is the senior striker for Wolves and is very much the number one in Bruno Lage’s eyes.
He is still getting used to the Premier League again following his awful head injury last season.
But Jimenez has had a decent season all things considered, and Lage has opted to use him wherever possible.
So it’s been slim pickings for Silva in terms of minutes, but he was drafted in to face the Villans on Saturday – and he did excellently leading the line.
The youngster played without fear, and really took the game to £25 million defender Tyrone Mings especially.
He linked up well with those around him, and also put himself about which was fantastic to see.
All that was missing from his display really was a goal. He’ll get his just rewards in the weeks to come if he keeps playing the way he did on Saturday.
Thompson heaped praise in the 19-year-old for the way he applied himself.
He said (via Wolves official): “I thought he was very good. He’s a 19-year-old boy still, he’s learning the game, he’s learning his trade. When he first came, he was raw, and didn’t have the stature he has now. A few times he held players off, he knocked them about, he caused them problems.
“You’re talking about Tyrone Mings who is an England international, who was just shrugged out of the way.
“Now he’s starting to realise he’s got to do something so he’s competing against those teams. He’s built himself up, he’s made himself stronger, he’s willing to run harder now, and he chases things down. I’ve seen a big improvement in him this year, with his physique.”
Fabio Silva is getting better and better for Wolves
Silva’s performance was one of the biggest positives of the day on Saturday.
The Silva of season one would probably have wilted in this game against two physical centre-halves. But there was absolutely none of that on Saturday.
It’s clear Silva has been working really hard to improve physically.
He may not have scored yet this season, but lately Silva has been showing he’s heading in the right direction.
It’s just about opportunity for him now. The work ethic and talent is there, he just needs to be allowed to go out and play.