Wolves captain Conor Coady has joked Maximilian Kilman is ‘like a big bus’ when he steps out of defence with the ball.
The 25-year-old went viral on social media last week after scoring a sensational solo goal against Deportivo Alaves.
With Wolves 3-0 up and cruising, Kilman turned on the style as he ran 70 yards with the ball against the Spanish outfit before cutting inside and finishing into the far corner with his weak foot.
It was an outstanding goal from Kilman, who has been threatening something like that for some time.
Last term, the star regularly broke the lines by dribbling, as well as passing.
Playing mainly on the right of a back three, Kilman would often call on his ability to surge forwards to get Wolves higher up the pitch.
Speaking to Wolves’ presenter Gemma Frith, Coady piled the praise on his defensive colleague.
He said: “I’ve been calling him ‘Messi Max’ and we’ve been talking about futsal and all this. But do you know what’s mad? He’s got that in his locker, that’s the sort of thing he can do. He’s so good with his feet and stepping out from the back – he’s like a big bus!”
“I don’t mean that to sound bad in any way. But when he’s running through people he shrugs people off. His goal was incredible.”
It has been a productive pre-season so far for Kilman, who of course finished the previous campaign with an injury.
The star suffered ankle ligament damage, but is seemingly on course to be available to face Leeds United in the club’s first Premier League game on August 6.
Kilman’s ability to surge forwards can be a real weapon for Wolves
It was a truly fantastic goal from Kilman against Alaves, and it showcased a quality that not too many centre-halves have these days.
Stepping out of defence is not the easiest skill.
It can be very risky, but Kilman seems to be very adept at it now. His big frame makes him difficult to knock off his stride, and potentially he can actually help Wolves become more threatening in the final third.
Someone would obviously need to stay back and cover for him. Especially if the team is playing with four at the back.
But it’s a high risk high reward tactic, and we might just be seeing it quite a bit in 2022/23. If not from Kilman then from Nathan Collins, who is also very good at stepping out.