Rodrigo Gomes has had his say regarding his role in this Wolves side.
Since arriving at Wolves last summer, Rodrigo Gomes has been tried out all over the pitch for Vitor Pereira.
He made 25 Premier League appearances in his debut, the majority coming off the bench, and he has definitely shown flashes of potential, still just 22.
He featured little in the early stages under Gary O’Neill, but Vitor Pereira backed Gomes and began experimenting with the versatile wide player, deploying him at wing-back on numerous occasions.
Rodrigo Gomes hints at wanting a more attacking role with Wolves
While previous comments suggest Gomes is happy to play at wing-back, there’s no doubt he enjoys the attacking side of the game more.
Even as a wing-back for Estoril, he had 14 league goal involvements in his final season in the Primeira Liga.
And now, new comments from an interview with E&S further support the idea that Gomes wants to be more involved in the attack. He said: “Now I’m more ready than before, so I’m trying to do my best, to give my best to the team, to help with assists and goals.
“In terms of football, I think I’m better. I know more about how to play here.”
He reinforced this point when asked what a successful season looks like: “I think a good season for me is to try to play more, try to score more goals and give more assists.”
It’s clear what his focus is on heading into the new campaign.
Wolves need Rodrigo Gomes in attack after Goncalo Guedes exit
Vitor Pereira is facing a staffing issue in the attacking department and developing the potential of Gomes could save him a few million pounds.
While Gomes struggled to create for his teammates last season, he has shown the ability at his previous club, and unlocking that side to his game should be a priority for Pereira, who the winger clearly admires.
When asked about his gaffer, Gomes remarked: “It’s perfect, since he came in, things have changed. We started to improve our game, he’s a very good manager. I think he’s doing an amazing job.”
As for the wing-back roles, David Moller Wolfe’s arrival solves the left, but the right is still in need of reinforcement after Nelson Semedo left Wolves.
But Gomes doesn’t have the physicality to be first choice in that position, and the club knows this, as they continue to pursue right-back options in the market.
A little more freedom for him to get involved in chance creation could unlock a different kind of player, something the gaffer should absolutely try next season.