Joao Gomes has shared one particular skill that Gary O’Neil is working hard with him to improve on at Wolves.
The midfielder has given his first in-depth interview with The Athletic, following his move to Wanderers from Flamengo earlier this year.
Gomes arrived for a reported fee of £15 million. The club faced a hijack attempt from Lyon, but were able to get the deal done thanks to the stance of the player.
Since coming in, Gomes has really caught the eye at Molineux.
He’s become a real favourite for his tenacious style, and many fans have enjoyed his partnership with Mario Lemina in the engine room.
Gomes is, of course, nowhere near the finished article and Gary O’Neil is working with him to improve every day.
Gomes has now shared one specific skill the Wolves head coach is helping him to improve…
Joao Gomes says Wolves manager Gary O’Neil is teaching him to scan better
Gomes’ interview with The Athletic makes for fascinating reading.
You get a sense that he hasn’t really had it easy in life, with his stammer making him fearful of things when he was younger.
What is also very evident from reading his remarks is that he’s a very hard worker.
He’s looking to better himself all the time, and Gomes has revealed that O’Neil is helping him to become better at scanning in games.
He said: “One thing I have a bit of difficulty with is scanning around me before I receive the ball. He (O’Neil) has been working on that a lot with me. I think you’ll see a big improvement in that area soon.”
O’Neil, of course, used to be a midfielder in his playing days.
Scanning was therefore something he needed to be fairly good at, and you would imagine he’s someone well-placed to show Gomes the ways.
O’Neil rates Gomes highly and will no doubt give him plenty of opportunities to develop his game.
Gomes will be a top player
Gomes has given a great account of himself at Wolves so far.
It can’t have been easy for him coming to the club from South America as a young player. The culture here is completely different compared to Brazil.
Then you have to factor in what he has said about his stammer. That must be challenging to deal with, but it sounds like he has come a long way in learning to live with it.
Considering everything, Gomes can be proud of himself for what he’s done so far at Wolves.
He is a cracking player, and he could well become a top player in the Premier League someday if he continues to work hard.