Wolves boss Mick McCarthy believes Stephen Ward can emulate Kevin Kilbane and become a career left-back.
Makeshift left-back Ward is more used to playing up front or left midfield, but has made the position his own since moving there for the last three games.
Sceptics were concerned at Ward’s lack of experience in a position made vulnerable by George Elokobi’s absence for the season.
Ward is keeping deadline signing George Friend out, while Matt Hill is sidelined for several weeks.
Now McCarthy reckons the 23-year-old can follow Wigan’s former Albion winger Kilbane, who has just reeled off 50 consecutive caps for the Republic of Ireland.
The Wolves boss said: “Stephen is a left-back, make no mistake about it. You don’t play three games as well as that and not be. He’s been fantastic at left-back and that’s his position.
“I always fancied he could play left-back, because he’s as much like Kevin Kilbane as I’ve ever had, in as much that he’s much-maligned sometimes as a left winger – he’s not ‘Kights’ and Kilbane wasn’t Damien Duff.
“But they are the ones the lads would always have in their team. Kilbane has just had 50 caps in a row – I’ve picked him, and so have Brian Kerr, Steve Staunton and now Giovanni Trapattoni – who knows a bit about the game.
“Stephen is just like Kevin. If I had to pick him up front, he’d do it with the same desire and gusto as left-back or anywhere else.”
“If he keeps playing there he’ll only improve. If when he started off he had a nightmare, I’d have been wondering whether he would improve, but he started off like a left-back.
“Stephen Ward is a very talented footballer.”
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8 Comments
It’s early days. Let’s wait and see!
Stephen Ward is “my best ever signing” and I tend to think that Mick would find a place for him in goal if that meant he played! I’m relieved that the other players like him because you have to say that he’s given chances and opportunities that others wouldn’t get and that could easily breed resentment within the team!
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Agree with you on that. And Trap picking Kilbane for Ireland doesnt really say a lot since they are not really being flooded with quality players to choose from. Anyway Wardy is doing a great job so far.
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Give Ward his due, he has been given a chance and he has taken it! I was prepared to rubbish a 2nd rate forward playing at left back at the start, but not now. Black Country fairness says “shut your gob an let him have his go”.
I think that Ward has also earned the right to have a bad day, just like I do at work, without us booing him, just as long as it’s only the one!
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The boy is flourishing and to be fair, i don’t mind who wears the shirt so long as they give it their all.
Wardy seems to have a point to prove and fair play to him. He’s ridden the wave of derision levelled at him by some quarters of the faithful and he looks a much better player than when we signed him.
Good luck to him and the rest of the squad. Happy days at Wolves, long may they stay.
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I saw him get roasted alive by Djilali.
He’s useless everywhere else and I suppose the only position remaining for him after left back would be left out.
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We know how Irish the Irish can be, so I have a theory why he gets all these starts.
You know how many transfers have fees that incrementally increase depending on appearances? Perhaps Bohemians agreed a decreasing fee with increased appearances!
That would explain it all. If he plays enough Bohemians could end up paying us to take him off their hands.
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You really area grumpy old man… Grumpy Ole Man.
The life and sole of a party I think not!!!!
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Grumpy
S*d off up the albion you moaner.
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