COMMENT: A resolution to a surreal Wolves situation
What a bizarre and peculiar episode.
Bright Enobakhare's prolonged absence was uncharted territory, certainly for Wolves in recent times, presumably for Kenny Jackett as a manager/head coach and perhaps even in English football as a whole,
You'd struggle to recall a similar occurrence.
A teenage footballer living in a foreign country goes AWOL, cuts off all contact with his club for almost a week, continues to post pictures on social media but refuses to turn up for work.
Speaking to Jackett yesterday had overtones of gathering information for a missing persons appeal.
Where is Bright? Has there been any contact with him? What's his recent state of mind been?
Not your average questions for a football manager.
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Reports surrounding his initial disappearance from Compton Park were conflicting. Sources suggested he turned up late for training, was fined, and threw his toys out of the pram.
Wolves were adamant he was given time off to deal with a personal issue and simply hadn't returned.
It would be unwise to jump to conclusions, or indeed to heavily castigate a young man for whom moving to England from Nigeria aged just 15, with a mother back home in Africa and a father splitting his time between here and Germany, must be incredibly difficult to deal with.
Jackett, speaking before any contact with Enobakhare had been made, chose his words carefully and sensitively, refusing to criticise the teenager and expressing concern for his wellbeing.
He repeatedly pointed out that, although Enobakhare has been nurtured and given support by the club, there is no substitute for family life.
While that is of course true, there comes a point where an employee must contact his or her employer to let them know of their whereabouts.
And Enobakhare has undeniably shown immaturity that has embarrassed the club.
Posting a video on Instagram four days ago showing him running on a treadmill, or uploading a picture a day later of himself out shopping (it is believed this had been taken a few weeks earlier) alongside the words 'I don't believe words I believe action', weren't the wisest moves from the youngster.
But then that's exactly what he is. A youngster. He's not even a man yet.
And who hasn't made an embarrassing mistake at that age? It's just unfortunate for Enobakhare that he happens to be a professional footballer in the public eye.
That's a lesson he must now learn. The price he pays for being paid handsomely to kick a football around a field for the next 20 years is that his private life probably won't remain too private.
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Footballers, in the days of 24-hour rolling sports news are, rightly or wrongly, fair game in the public's eyes, even at second-tier Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Wolves haven't made public any details of any disciplinary action they have taken, but admonishment is more likely to be more lenient than severe.
While some form of punishment must surely be metered out, so as not to set an awful precedent at a club where foreign youngsters are becoming more prevalent, there are mitigating factors at play here.
What was not up for debate was that an increasingly surreal situation needed resolving sooner rather than later.
Thankfully, it has been. And Enobakhare's challenge now is to do his talking on the field.
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A club as conscientious as Wolves are will give him every opportunity to do that. Enobakhare, with an arm around his shoulder and some sage advice, has every chance of turning this into a blip rather than the first incident of many. We all hope it's the former.
