Wolves’ Sporting Star columnist John Lalley believes the fans could well have witnessed the rebirth of Nenad Milijas after his second-half salvo at Stoke.

A good many people fancied that the October fixture list would probably yield us just three points and so it proved. But the belief was that the total would have been achieved all in one go at the expense of Portsmouth before we slipped to the inevitable defeats against Everton, Villa and Stoke.

Instead, after the Pompey flop, the points came in a triumvirate of highly creditable performances with our players showing a hell of a lot of character to defy the odds. This determination manifested itself in abundance during a barnstorming second half in the Potteries last Saturday when previously we looked dead and buried.

I’m the first to admit that the sight of Nenad Milijas entering the fray for the second period did little to convince me that a Wolves comeback was remotely likely. In fact, it was hard to imagine any other venue in the Premier where the Serbian international’s input was likely to be more peripheral.

So timid had our performance been, it didn’t seem to make any difference who we summoned from the bench. We were facing a seemingly inevitable hammering and Milijas was unlikely to shape any change of fortune.

But that’s exactly what he did, with Wolves completely dictating terms with the Serb orchestrating events from midfield. Two exquisite left-footed deliveries from a couple of set pieces led to two goals and boosted the guy’s confidence sky high – you could see just how much it meant to the bloke.

Milijas must have endured a wretched last three months, a big money signing from abroad, praised to the skies during pre-season but then, when it really matters, – and lets be frank – absolutely nothing.

Sure, he is being handsomely paid for his trouble, but would have been sickened not to make an immediate impression at Molineux and embarrassed by the initial impression of many fans that he was a flop, a lightweight unable to adapt to the rigours of the English game, a midfield version of Tomasz Frankowski.

After assisting Jody Craddock to get on the score sheet so early, the self-belief soared in the guy and our players were looking to feed him possession at every available opportunity as he directed just about everything creative in midfield.

The Wolves fans in the Britannia’s South Stand were willing Milijas on, desperate for him to succeed almost as much for the player himself as for the team as a whole. Had he remained just a little more composed, he might have completed the perfect afternoon and scored a late winner himself, but – with the adrenaline pumping – snatched at a presentable opportunity.

Clearly, one cracking 45 minutes by no stretch means that Milijas has in any way established himself, but it’s a start.

He can draw some inspiration from our other overseas signing Ronald Zubar, who likewise found his first couple of months at Wolves no bed of roses. Fitness and language problems threatened to cast him as the new Isaac Okoronkwo but his belated debut at Everton was certainly worth the wait.

In the subsequent two games, his pace and assurance at the back suggest that Zubar will become a real asset to this club capable of adapting at the top level.

Last Saturday’s trip was all made worthwhile when our players trooped off the field, thoroughly knackered but immensely satisfied at rescuing a point. Milijas slipped away almost sheepishly, wondering if the thunderous reception from our fans was in any way directed towards him individually.

He can rest assured it was, despite only managing a couple of indeterminate handclaps in our direction by way of acknowledgement, but was decidedly reluctant to be seen as presuming he was the star of the show.

In contrast, Zubar displayed no such inhibitions he had not the slightest intention of stifling his natural French flamboyance. He strutted towards us proud as a peacock, happily hysterical at our comeback, thrilled to have made a contribution.

He peeled off his gold shirt and joyfully tossed it into the seats for our supporters to devour. Bare-chested, muscles rippling, he swaggered off towards the tunnel ecstatically applauding the Wolves fans and utterly delighted with himself. Brilliant!

By then, with Zubar reluctant to leave the field because he was enjoying the moment so much, Milijas was long back in the dressing- room, but deep down, I bet he was feeling just as chuffed as Zubar.