Nouha Dicko: Wolves relegation transformed me

Nouha Dicko today declared Wolves' relegation made him a man.

The 21-year-old was the two-goal hero of Saturday's 3-0 win against Port Vale, taking his tally to five goals in six games since his £300,000 arrival from Wigan which sent Kenny Jackett's side top of League One.

But the chunky, dynamic striker looks a transformed player from the timid winger Dean Saunders signed on loan last season.

"It wasn't easy last season but I think it helped me grow up as a footballer and a man," said the French striker.

"It's the same club but not the same team.

"The team is different - players have left- and I think the spirit is better.

"The quality is here and I'm happy to be back."

Dicko claims hard work is the secret behind Wolves' rise to the top after seven straight wins.

"We've been working really hard to get back to the top of the league," he said.

"On the pitch and on the training ground, everyone at the club are ready to keep working hard to stay in this position.

"You can see we're a team who are doing good. The future looks bright."

Dicko missed the chance of a first hat-trick when his 89th-minute penalty was saved by keeper Chris Neal.

But he doesn't intend to let it affect him.

"I've been close but I've never scored a hat-trick," he said.

"I'm chasing it - hopefully next week it will come. Why not?

"But I need to keep working hard and hopefully it will come.

"It was really good to score again because I had some good chances and didn't take them in our last two games but I kept working hard.

"It's really good to play in this team - Michael Jacobs and James Henry are really good players and it's really good to know they can score as well.

"Since I arrived I've been able to maintain the quality that was already here.

"We're doing well, we're in good shape, in good form playing attacking football and we're linking up well.

"If you don't have a good atmosphere in the dressing room, you can't play well for the team.

"But the atmosphere is good and that's allowed us to get the best from the team."