Jean-Ricner Bellegarde has been like a man reborn in February, finally establishing himself as a key player for Wolves.
Bellegarde scored in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa and was then influential from the bench against Liverpool, assisting Matheus Cunha for his fantastic strike.
The 26-year-old was often frozen out under Gary O’Neil, with the Englishman not sold on what position he should play.
The former Strasbourg man has since been used as an attacking midfielder under Vitor Pereira, and this has brought the best out of his ball-carrying attributes.
Bellegarde was unplayable against Bournemouth last weekend and deserved plaudits for his display alongside Cunha, with it becoming clear he’s enjoying his best football at Molineux.
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Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is more comfortable playing centrally
In his role as a central midfielder, the metronome can pick up the ball from deep and drive forward, whereas in a wide position, he was often isolated.
Speaking to Wolves official website, Bellegarde has explained how he’s at his most confident in an attacking midfield role as the forwards can open space up for him to exploit.
“I’m enjoying every day if I can play,” he said. “It’s a good moment for the team, but I need to help the team if I can. I’m more confident in midfield. I can touch the ball and attack and defend. I’m comfortable there.
“Further forward, the striker can open the space for me, and if the spaces are open, I can attack them. It’s not the same profile [Strand Larsen and Munetsi] and we need to adapt to different players.”
The emergence of Pereira as manager is one reason why Bellegarde is now enjoying his football again, as former boss O’Neil couldn’t figure out how to unlock his potential.
Gary O’Neil felt Bellegarde was best playing out wide
When Pedro Neto exited the club to join Chelsea in the summer, there wasn’t anyone of class and quality to replace him.
In October, O’Neil challenged Bellegarde to improve his goal and assist numbers to fill Neto’s void, seeing him as someone who could play off the left or right.
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“We knew that Pedro (Neto) might leave and it may open things up more for him, and he needed to stay injury free and in a good spot,” O’Neil said via the E&S.
“He does have qualities that can help us, whether that be off the side of slightly narrower. He is versatile with the fact he can play off the left or the right.
“He’s had a decent start but I want to keep pushing him for more goal involvements and more quality in the final third, but he’s working very hard.”
The above comments suggest that the former Wolves boss saw the Frenchman as a fleet-footed winger and not someone who could make lung-bursting runs from a central position.
Perhaps if the Englishman used Bellegarde in his best position – as a central attacking midfielder – he would have seen the best of him.