Wolves fans are waiting patiently to see deadline day signing Nasser Djiga in action for the first time.
On a dramatic final day of the January transfer window, Wolves welcomed Djiga and Marshall Munetsi to the squad.
Vitor Pereira wanted another defender after signing Emmanuel Agbadou, seeing Djiga arrive from Red Star Belgrade after an impressive rise in Serbia.
The 22-year-old did not make his debut alongside fellow deadline-day arrival Munetsi in the FA Cup when Wolves beat Blackburn Rovers, with all eyes on when he could make his first appearance.
Vitor Pereira unearths rivalry between Matt Doherty and Nasser Djiga
Despite not kicking a ball yet for his new club, Djiga has already won over Wolves fans as he turned down Europa League football with Galatasaray to join the Old Gold.
In the Burkina Faso international, the West Midlands club have acquired a top talent on the rise, with Djiga himself explaining why he’s a perfect fit for the Premier League.
Despite all signs pointing to the 22-year-old defender being a success at Wolves, journalist Liam Keen suggested that one battle in the squad could see fans have to wait to see Djiga in action.
Speaking on the E&S Wolves Podcast, Keen raised the impact that Matt Doherty’s rise under Pereira could have on Djiga’s integration into the starting XI.
“It’s going to be fascinating how he [Pereira] beds him [Djiga] in, as much as he has the physical attributes to do well in the Premier League, he is 22, you have to question whether they will be desperate to throw him straight in.
“Wolves have got players who are 22, 23 that have done really well, the age doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t play but I do wonder with Doc [Doherty] doing pretty well whether he will not get into the team straight away.”
The Wolves expert went on to admit that he is doubtful about whether Djiga will earn his full Premier League debut against Liverpool at Anfield for the reason of the Irishman’s presence.
“If and when he does come in you’d imagine it would be for Doc so, hopefully, that bit of competition will be good for the team. I would hedge my bets for Liverpool because it’s probably going to be Doc and it’s his shirt to lose.”
Matt Doherty has become a surprise star under Pereira
Not many would have thought that the new Wolves manager would have paved the way for Doherty to become a starter again at Molineux but, the reality is that Pereira has given the 33-year-old a new lease of life.
After the Ireland international’s performance against Spurs, Doherty was dubbed a club legend by fans, telling of how highly rated he still is despite being one of the most senior players in the squad.
| Under Gary O’Neil | Under Vitor Pereira |
| 4 starts | 8 starts |
For a talent like Djiga who has just touched down in England, the scenario is not negative but is overly positive, having Doherty to learn from and compete with.
The situation is only beneficial to Wolves as the 22-year-old can be considered the natural progressor of Doherty, who despite being in the later stages of his career, is showing no sign of fading yet.