Former Molineux defender Andy Thompson has hailed Craig Dawson for the impact he has had at Wolves.
Wanderers will be a Premier League club once again next season after staving off relegation with three games to spare.
Julen Lopetegui has executed a successful safety mission, and fans can now look ahead to next season.
Wolves looked doomed earlier this season.
It was an horrendous first few months of 2022/23, with Wolves playing some awful football and not picking up points.
Bruno Lage was sacked in October and then there was a period of limbo, with Julen Lopetegui initially declining the job.
Steve Davis tried to steady the ship, but Wolves were on course to go down.
Thankfully, Lopetegui eventually took the job. He came in, and has done a brilliant job.
Something that helped him to achieve safety was to bring in characters and leaders in January – and his signing of Dawson was a stroke of genius.
Dawson had been on Wolves’ radar since the summer. They tried to get him at the start of the season, but West Ham United couldn’t get a replacement.
It was placed on the backburner, and Wolves got their man in January. He cost just over £3 million.
And Dawson has played every Premier League game since his arrival at the club, and been absolutely tremendous.
And his impact has seriously impressed former Wolves man Thompson, who said (via Wolves official): “I think he’s been outstanding since he’s come in. It’s good for the young lads at the club having an experienced player, no messing around, and it helps.
“If he’s a defender, midfielder or forward, I think his approach and it’s the way he’s gone about it. We went for him and brought him to the club. He’s done really well.”
For many, Wolves may not now be safe had Dawson not arrived mid-season.
Wolves’ signing of Craig Dawson signing cannot be overstated
There is no doubt about it – Wolves were heading for relegation before the arrival of Lopetegui.
The manager came in and quickly identified the issues, and his decision to have the club push for Dawson again was massively important.
Wolves’ backline was crying out for a bit of authority.
It needed a leader and someone to come in and improve everyone else.
Dawson has done precisely that, and simply has to be one of the signings of the season by a Premier League club in 2022/23.
Without him, it’s very possible Wolves would now be heading into this final game with Arsenal still needing a result to stay up.