Nathan Collins has reportedly been looking good in Wolves pre-season training.
The centre-back completed a move to Wanderers last week from Burnley, becoming the club’s first addition of the summer.
Collins joined for a fee just over £20 million.
Fans are very excited for his arrival.
There has been a lot of clamour for a new centre-half, with Wolves having gone a number of transfers without strengthening in that position.
Yerson Mosquera was signed last year, but he is one more for the future.
Collins, while also young, is someone who will be contending for the first-team immediately.
The 21-year-old has been with new teammate for almost a week now.
He’s had a few sessions out in Alicante, and the Express & Star have reported how he got on when they went to watch him for the first time. They noted in particular how vocal he was being.
They said of him: “For someone who is supposedly a bit quieter off the pitch, he is a good communicator on it. With a view of the pitch in front of him that role is important and he constantly spoke to the midfielders in front of him and the full-back next to him, organising the shape and helping spring attacks.
“He is quite similar to Max Kilman, too, as he impressed on the ball. He is comfortable with it and did well under pressure.
“He perfectly fits the mould for what Lage wants from a defender. Tall, strong, fast and technically gifted – no wonder they spent £20.5million on him.”
Collins should feature for Wanderers in the upcoming games against Deportivo Alaves, Levante and Besiktas.
Encouraging news as Nathan Collins settles in with Wolves in pre-season
It sounds as though Collins has given a solid account of himself so far.
It is important for him to be communicative as, potentially, Conor Coady might be featuring less for Wolves this season.
If Lage changes to a back four as has been suggested, then Coady may have to make do with a place on the bench with Collins and Kilman as the go-to pairing.
One of the biggest down sides to Coady not playing would be that loss of leadership and communication.
So to hear Collins is being vocal in pre-season is encouraging.