Stephen Ward has praised Toti Gomes following his wonderful display for Wolves against Chelsea last weekend.
Toti was deployed at left-back for the second game running, with Hugo Bueno again on the bench and Rayan Ait-Nouri left out completely.
It was difficult to argue against Julen Lopetegui’s decision.
Toti, 24, had arguably been Wolves’ best player in the previous game against Nottingham Forest.
So he got the nod again last weekend, and he certainly did not disappoint. in fact, he might well have had his best game in a Wolves shirt.
Toti was just simple and solid. He did not overcomplicate things and completely locked down his area of the pitch.
There was one brilliant moment where he carried the ball about 20 yards up the pitch before drawing a foul. That went down really well with the crowd and added to the atmosphere.
But by and large, Toti just went about his job with confidence and competence.
And his efforts led to praise from former Molineux left-back Ward on this week’s Wolves Weekly podcast.
He said: “His did the basics well. As a full-back, if you do that well, you don’t go too far wrong. He gave Wolves a physicality.
“I highlighted the right-hand side of the pitch for Chelsea would be where Wolves would really have to stop the main threat, with Reece James and Raheem Sterling and I can’t really remember Raheem Sterling having any impact on the game at all.
“I thought Toti got tight, he was physical. And when he got the ball back, he just used it simply. I thought he did really, really well.”
£50 million man Sterling received the lowest rating for any Chelsea player from Sofascore after the game with 6.5.
He was substituted by Frank Lampard with around 25 minutes to go by Frank Lampard at Molineux.
Toti Gomes excelled against Chelsea and should keep his place for Wolves against Brentford
Toti was fantastic against Chelsea and it’s brilliant to see him getting chances now and playing well.
He never complains about lacking minutes, when perhaps he does deserve to play more than he does.
He just gets on with things and then performs when called upon.
Hopefully, Lopetegui keeps him in the team against Brentford. Not only does he deserve to start again, but his physicality will make him a pretty important player against the Bees.