With a new era underway at Wolves, it is safe to say fans are now seeing the best of Nelson Semedo.
After joining from Barcelona for a deal worth nearly £37 million, the fullback has often come under scrutiny for his performances in an old gold shirt.
His time at Wolves even seemed to an end in the summer as speculation rose that he would be released at the end of his contract until the club triggered a two-year extension.
Now with Gary O’Neil at the helm, Wolves fans are finally seeing the best of Nelson Semedo with the fullback becoming one of the side’s top performers this season as they look to survive the drop.
Nelson Semedo’s role in Pedro Neto’s success
It is no secret that Neto has become one of Wolves’ most important attacking players this season.
His form means that O’Neil’s men are always looking towards the Portuguese winger to start a new attack. As a result, Neto is typically the furthest forward player on the pitch. The 23-year-old occupied the highest average in a Wolves shirt against both Newcastle and Bournemouth according to WhoScored.
This means that Semedo is tasked in keeping his right flank secure, a job he has been doing brilliantly so far this season.
Using statistics from Fbref, the fullback has his highest tackle succession percentage yet in a Wolves shirt at 68.4% – 16.8% higher than last season.
78% of these challenges are also coming in Wolves’ final third which only reinforces the importance of the tackles he is putting in.
The 29-year-old has also seen an improvement in the air with the fullback now winning 50% of his aerial duels, his highest percentage so far.
Semedo’s attacking game is still strong for Wolves
Despite the defender’s importance in a defensive role, he is still just as effective in attack.
So far this season, he has seen a 65.4% successful take-on percentage. Again, his highest ever in a Wolves shirt. In recent games, against Newcastle and Aston Villa, his take-on percentage success was perfect.
His shot-creating actions are also higher than last season at 1.21 per 90 minutes with his passes into the penalty area only three off last season.
The full-back is clearly buying into the new manager’s ideas after recently expressing his delight for O’Neil’s new ideas.
Semedo said (Express and Star): “Everybody is happy because he’s a great coach and a great person. Everybody in the dressing room likes him, so it was very important for all of us that he came.
“We are improving week after week with his ideas and his staff’s ideas as well. We like having him a lot.”
Tottenham will provide another test for Semedo
As Wolves welcome table-topping Spurs on Saturday, it will no doubt provide another difficult test for the full-back.
With the side still without Neto and on the back of a controversial defeat to Sheffield United, they will no doubt be aiming for at least a point.
However, if Semedo continues his recent performances and keeps the right flank locked down, it will no doubt help push Wolves in the right direction.
Spurs are already without many key players for the tie which may help give Wolves and Semedo the edge they need to bounce back in style before the international break.