Max Kilman has raised his level in recent weeks after assuming the captain’s armband at Wolves at the start of the season – and there are some statistics that Steve Davis especially will be really proud of.
Kilman has been an ever-present for Gary O’Neil this season in the Premier League, playing every single minute.
The 26-year-old is a very trusted player for O’Neil, and has really started to impress for Wanderers over the last couple of months or so.
Kilman appears to have settled down now having started the season with some hit-and-miss performances. It was as though the captain’s armband was weighing a little heavy at first, but Kilman – alongside the rock-solid Craig Dawson – has really started to flourish lately.
One thing that has been noticeable with him is that he has been a bit more aggressive and dominant – and there are statistics to back this up…
Max Kilman more dominant for Wolves as impressive statistics come to light
Kilman has been known mostly for his technical ability since breaking through at Wolves.
He is someone who can pick out those raking long passes out to the wing-backs, like Conor Coady used to do at Molineux, and he is also very good at dribbling the ball out from the back.
Kilman has great feet for a tall player, and has a pretty good weak foot too which allows him to be comfortable playing on the right of a back three.
This season though, Kilman has been showing a bit more aggression.
According to WhoScored, Kilman has an aerial duel success rate of 73.6% so far in the Premier League (50+ contested). That is second only to Virgil van Dijk (82%), arguably the best centre-half in the division.
Futhermore, Kilman is showing that he’s fairly dominant when it comes to his tackling.
Fbref data shows that he has a 77.8% success rate when it comes to dribbles tackled.
Steve Davis will be delighted with this
These are some really impressive stats from Kilman and there is one man who’ll probably be feeling particularly proud.
Steve Davis is now the pathways manager at Wolves, but previously he was the U18s manager and obviously, he was the caretaker of the first-team along with James Collins, after Bruno Lage was sacked.
Davis previously challenged £50,000-a-week star Kilman to become a more dominant and feared player, in order to become considered for a place in the England squad, saying in November 2022: “There is a lack of left-footed centre-backs of quality. For me, if there’s something Max needs to improve on, he needs more aggression in how he plays. You have to have a reputation to be someone the opposition hates playing against. He has to build that.
“He has a high quality on the technical side, he’s become a really good athlete and his profile is spot on to be an England centre-back – and there isn’t much competition – but the best centre-halves were feared. If he can do that there’s no reason why he couldn’t play for England.”
It’s fairly safe to say this point that Kilman has taken Davis’ advice on board and is now a more dominant player.
Perhaps it will be ultimately too late for him to break into the England squad ahead of Euro 2024, but who knows.