Mel Eves: Pre-season should help new boss Nuno stamp his mark on Wolves

Wolves will face two of the clubs relegated from the Premier League last season in their opening three games, starting with a home fixture against the bookies’ title favourites Middlesbrough on Saturday, August 5.

Nuno’s men will also go to Hull City and much-fancied Derby County in the opening fortnight of the season.

The former Porto boss became the club’s fourth head coach in the space of a year when he replaced Paul Lambert last month.

But while acknowledging the pressure will be on him from the start, League Cup winner Eves believes the next few weeks is where Nuno can make his mark on the training ground and learn which players should be part of his long-term plans.

Wolves return for pre-season training next week, when the new boss will meet the majority of his squad for the first time.

And Eves said: “He has a better chance because he has the pre-season. He has the chance to get a really good look at the players.

“There is a chance to get his claws into things and instil the way he wants to play and the way he wants to do things. People will be able to get on his wavelength.

“He’ll no doubt have been told a bit about the players but this is his opportunity to see things for himself.

“Have they got the right attitude? He will find that out.

“By the same token it is the chance for some players who were maybe out of the picture last season to impress him.”

Winger Jed Wallace and midfielder George Saville are both expected to leave for Millwall in the coming days. Further departures are likely in the coming weeks as Wolves look to trim their squad.