Wolves have lost their latest pre-season friendly against RC Lens – but journalist Liam Keen has shared a big positive about Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
Fans are now starting to worry about the new season ahead, after Wanderers continue their winless run in pre-season.
While results are not the be all and end all, they do serve as good gauge of where a team is currently at.
Last night, Wolves lost 3-1 to Lens, with all the goals coming in the second-half.
Wolves did start the game brightly and showed some attacking intent down the flanks, and there was another decent display from new signing Fer Lopez.
But they just weren’t good enough defensively, and the lack of squad depth for Wolves was also laid bare against Lens.
But after the game, Liam Keen did share one big positive, and it was regarding Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
Wolves may have a new set-piece specialist in Jean-Ricner Bellegarde
Bellegarde was a bright spark for Wolves last season under Vitor Pereira.
The Frenchman responded really well to the manager’s arrival, and produced a string of great performances.
He played a few times in central midfield, and also did well as an inside left forward when Matheus Cunha was suspended.
But there has been something about Bellegarde over the last few weeks that bodes really well for Wolves – and that is his set-piece quality.
Liam Keen said: “I thought Bellegarde was creative and did well. His set-pieces all through pre-season actually have been pretty good. From free-kicks and from corners.
“I thought out on that left-hand side, not as a wing-back but as one of the 10s – I thought he looked a lot more comfortable.”
Bellegarde could be a big player for Wolves in 2025/26
It is welcome news that Bellegarde has been strong on set-pieces so far in pre-season for Wolves.
Pereira needs a set-piece taker after losing Cunha and Pablo Sarabia, so hopefully Bellegarde can step up in this aspect.
New signing Jhon Arias also has good set-piece quality, so hopefully between those two Wolves will be carrying a relatively decent threat.
| Jean-Ricner Bellegarde for Wolves (2023-present) |
| Appearances – 39 |
| Minutes played – 1869 |
| Goals – 2 |
| Assists – 7 |
But it’s a big season ahead for Bellegarde, after he finally found his mojo in the second half of last season.
Bellegarde is now commencing his third season at Molineux and the expectations on him have increased.
As a senior player in the squad, Wolves need him to stand up and deliver, especially with Cunha having left the club.
Bellegarde shone in the Brazilian’s absence last term so hopefully we’ll see him rise to the occasion.