Former Molineux midfielder Dave Edwards has hailed Rayan Ait-Nouri for the improvements he has made this season, insisting he has become ‘a massive force’ in the team.
Ait-Nouri is currently on the sidelines after limping off during the game with Fulham last week.
Ait-Nouri appeared to roll his ankle, and was treated for several minutes. He then came back on and tried to run it off, but had to be withdrawn shortly after.
The injury isn’t thought to be too serious which is good news, because Ait-Nouri has enjoyed a great campaign so far, with Edwards very impressed with what he has seen…
Dave Edwards says Rayan Ait-Nouri is now ‘a massive force’ for Wolves
Edwards was speaking about Ait-Nouri after the game with Burnley, on the Wolves Weekly podcast.
He was talking about how Wolves struggled despite winning, with the creation of chances proving tricky against the Clarets.
He then said of the absent Ait-Nouri: “They did enough (against Burnley). I think there was a lot of circumstances going against O’Neil. A couple of key injuries, a really tough game against Arsenal rolling into this game. It’s difficult for them to get going. I’ll say this is the first performance of a Gary O’Neil team that has been like this. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.
“This was the first time there has been a dip. Missing Neto is huge, but also Rayan Ait-Nouri. I think he’s improved so much this season and I think he is a massive force down that left-hand side. I just don’t think necessarily the individuals he went with worked as well as what he hoped.”
Hugo Bueno started as the left wing-back for Wolves in place of the Algerian.
Ait-Nouri has been brilliant
Wolves have managed well this season when key players have been out, but it will be a big boost when Ait-Nouri comes back into the side.
So far this season he has been superb for Wolves, and is probably in the top five best performers so far.
He’s found his mojo again under Gary O’Neil, having been frozen out under Julen Lopetegui last season.
The £10 million star started well when Wolves were playing with a back four, but since Toti Gomes came in and the system became a back three with wing-backs again, Ait-Nouri has got even better. He has admitted he does prefer to play as a wing-back as it gets the most out of his attacking qualities.
Hopefully he isn’t out too much longer. Bueno is a capable deputy, but the form of Ait-Nouri this season has been superb, and O’Neil could do with having his ‘massive force’ back on that left side.