Sam Johnstone’s stock has risen somewhat unexpectedly at Wolves in recent weeks.
The goalkeeper has had a peculiar spell at Molineux since joining from Crystal Palace for £10 million in the summer of 2024.
He struggled for minutes last season, after failing to make an impression and ultimately losing his place to Jose Sa.
The Portuguese was Pereira’s go-to last season, but the picture has now changed.
Sa has given a number of poor displays this season, and has only made a handful of saves.
Sa is currently the lowest-ranked player in the Premier League according to WhoScored data, and that has paved the way for Johnstone to come in.
And journalists Liam Keen and Nathan Judah have noticed a welcome change in Johnstone of late.
Sam Johnstone has been more vocal for Wolves
Johnstone has now started Wolves’ last two games against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.
And that has coincided with Wanderers giving their best two performances of the season.
Johnstone kept Wolves’ first clean sheet of the campaign against the Toffees, and then was really unlucky not to get one against Spurs as well.
Against Spurs, Johnstone again made a few good saves. His one from Mohammed Kudus in the first-half was exceptional.
And it appears Johnstone is generally playing with more confidence. And Liam Keen and Nathan Judah have both said he has been more vocal recently.
On the latest Express & Star podcast, Judah said: “You could tell his confidence was growing in the (Spurs) game.
“I’m critical of both Sa and Johnstone for this, I feel like vocally they’re poor. You can’t hear them.
“You can tell the confidence growing in Sam Johnstone, especially in the second-half – he was belting out! Belting out stuff to Bueno and Krejci and Agbadou when he was on.
“That’s when I think you get confidence when you’re not quite there.
“You could tell, just as the game went on, he was almost standing a foot taller. He knew he was having a good game, he knew this was his chance.”
Keen added: “I love the fact he was loud against Spurs. I think it’s really important to pick up on that. And actually, he did it a fair bit against Everton as well.
“I’m really pleased Johnstone has been able to show – even to a small extent if you will – how good a goalkeeper he can be.”
- READ MORE: Why Vitor Pereira actually picked Sam Johnstone over Jose Sa for Wolves’ game vs Tottenham
It’s Johnstone’s shirt to lose at Wolves
Johnstone deserves a lot of credit for his early-season form.
A couple of months ago, most Wolves fans would not have expected him to even still be at the club, amid speculation of a transfer exit.
| Sam Johnstone for Wolves this season |
| Appearances – 4 |
| Minutes played – 360 |
| Clean sheets – 1 |
| Saves – 11 |
| Save percentage – 73.3% |
| Pass completion – 54.4% |
And certainly, few would not have been too upset to see him go, after he failed to impress last term.
But Johnstone has been excellent when called upon this term and now it looks like he does have the number one shirt – and it’s up to him to keep hold of it.
It would be a major surprise if Sa started ahead of him against Brighton, and Johnstone must ensure he again vindicates the manager’s decision to pick him.