Several Wolves players have spoken of their desire to get things back on track, and for Joao Gomes, there is additional motivation to achieve that.
Wolves fell to yet another defeat in the Premier League on Sunday, losing to Burnley at Molineux.
Wolves did well to get back on level terms after going 2-0. But then, after failing to break the Clarets down, the Old Gold shipped a goal in the last minute.
That prompted angry scenes after the full-time whistle, with fans in the South Bank directing their fury towards Vitor Pereira and Jorgen Strand Larsen as they tried to diffuse tensions.
In the aftermath of the game, Joao Gomes sent a message to Wolves fans promising that the players will work hard to turn things around.
And Gomes again took to social media today to express his happiness at being a Wolves player, remembering the ‘Free Joao Gomes’ campaign when he was signing for the club from Flamengo.
He’ll no doubt be working harder than anyone to improve – and the midfielder has revealed another reason he wants Wolves renaissance.
Joao Gomes has eyes on making Brazil’s World Cup squad
There is likely no player who cares more about the fate of Wolves than Gomes.
From the moment he stepped through the door at Compton Park, he has conducted himself superbly and his love for the club was immediate.
He is potentially the most popular player with the fans, because he puts his all in every single game.
This situation will no doubt be hurting him, and he’ll be doing his utmost to prevent a relegation for Wolves.
But there is also another reason why Gomes is determined for Wolves to improve their league position – and that’s because he wants to make Brazil’s World Cup squad.
He said in a long read piece on the Wolves official website: “I’m always working towards it. I know I have to do well here at Wolves for me to go, and I know my team also has to do well, because I think that’s one of the determining factors.
“For me, I’m thinking about what I can do at Wolves first to earn a call-up to the national team.
“Obviously playing for their country at a World Cup is a dream for everyone. But for me, it’s just that I think I need to focus on the job that I’m doing here first, mainly to get Wolves out of this situation, which is the most important thing right now, and then we’ll see what happens.”
Joao Gomes has work to do to make Brazil squad
It would be amazing to see Joao Gomes playing for Brazil at the World Cup next year, but at the moment he really has some work to do.
Obviously, Wolves are struggling right now, and he has not been in the best form this term.
Carlo Ancelotti overlooked Gomes and Andre for his first two Brazil squads, but picked them both for the October games against Japan and South Korea.
| Joao Gomes pre-Carlo Ancelotti | Joao Gomes under Carlo Ancelotti |
| Caps – 10 | Caps – 0 |
| Minutes played – 563 | Minutes played – 0 |
| Goals – 0 | Goals – 0 |
| Assists – 0 | Assists – 0 |
However, Gomes did not get any minutes.
Ancelotti hinted the squad he picks in March could be his final Brazil squad, so Gomes does not have too long to convince the Italian of his quality.
One gets the feeling that if Wolves don’t turn their form around in a big way, then he might struggle to make the final cut. And that would be such a huge shame given how great his trajectory has been over the past couple of years.