Wolves ran out 1-0 winners against Leeds United on Monday, with the club moving up to sixth place in the Premier League table as a result.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have yet to hit top gear, but nine points from five outings is not bad going at all given the lack of a proper pre-season.
At the moment, Nuno is arguably still trying to stumble upon his best team, but one man who’s been building a serious case of late to feature every game, is Belgian enforcer Leander Dendoncker.
The £12 million signing from Anderlecht (talkSPORT) has been the name on fans’ lips in the early stages of the 2020/21 season, with maestro Joao Moutinho unfortunately hitting a bit of a poor patch.
Some have argued that Moutinho hasn’t been up to his usual standards, while others have said that he and Ruben Neves are a little too similar at times.
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Subsequently there has been plenty of clamour for Dendoncker, and a statistic from the Leeds game perhaps demonstrates how much of a sheer presence he is.
The 26-year-old won no fewer than 10 aerial duels against the Whites on Monday which, according to the Birmingham Mail, was at least seven more than any other player on the pitch.
Dendoncker’s aerial presence has always been acknowledged, but the Leeds statistic really is quite something.
Dendoncker’s style complementary for Wolves
In a team brimming with technicians, having someone able to bring that physicality and aerial prowess is very important.
Having someone who can do that in a central midfield area is especially invaluable.
Dendoncker may not have the craft or the deftness of a Moutinho or Neves, but his midfield general qualities make him absolutely invaluable.
Certainly when coming up against the more physical teams in the Premier League, Dendoncker is a vital counter.