Wolves 1 Leicester 0 – Five talking points

Ivan Cavaleiro's stunning strike won the game for Nuno Espirito Santo's team but the scoreline flattered the Foxes.

Wolves created a host of chances and produced their best performance from the six friendlies they've played.

But what did we learn from the game? Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers picks out five talking points.

Perfect preparation

After a great start to pre-season, then a slightly worrying lull against Jablonec and Shrewsbury (fatigue certainly played its part) Wolves have come to the boil by saving their best performances for the second half at Peterborough (with a second string side) and the whole game here.

A scoreline of 3-0 or 4-0 would have been a fair reflection of the game, such was Wolves' dominance.

Admittedly, Leicester were surprisingly awful and looked unfit (they are week behind Wolves as the Premier League season kicks off on August 12).

But regardless of fitness the Foxes are quality opposition and at times Wolves carved through them like a Sunday roast.

As Barry Douglas (more of him in a minute) said afterwards, everything clicked. Indeed, it was the first time this pre-season they'd briskly caressed the ball around the final third at pace, often via only a couple of touches.

It was a pleasure to watch and the home fans lapped it up. The only problem was there wasn't a striker to finish any of these moves off.

With Nouha Dicko injured it's become more glaringly obvious than ever what's lacking in this team. Ivan Cavaleiro did his best, and of course scored, but from a 20-yard screamer and not the six-yard tap in he should have netted in the first half.

It's been said all summer, but now time is starting to run out and if Dicko isn't fit for Boro – a game for which Cavaleiro is suspended – then it's not at all clear who'll play up front.

Portuguese party

Diogo Jota looks quite handy doesn't he? As far as Molineux introductions go this was pretty impressive. Jota's in the Helder Costa mould of direct running at pace, excellent technique and a tasty long range shot.

In fact his barnstorming run to set up Cavaleiro's winner was slightly reminiscent of Costa's assist for Andi Weimann's goal at Anfield in January.

And behind him Ruben Neves pulled the strings with all the dominance and composure you'd expect from a £15m ball-playing midfielder.

What with Roderick Miranda getting the nod over Danny Batth (a decision Islam Slimani will have been cursing when he hobbled off injured after Miranda's left a nasty gash on his leg) the Portuguese influence at Molineux is growing strong. Miranda hasn't been tested too strenuously over pre-season but looks very comfortable bringing the ball out from the back.

As always with new signings from the continent, how quickly they adapt to the rigours of the Championship will define their success or otherwise. But in friendly format they've all impressed.

A word too for Romain Saiss who, like Wolves, saved his best for last in pre-season.

Dependable Douglas

He won't get as much action on the highlights reel at Jota but Barry Douglas was equally impressive.

In fact he's been the pick of the 10 (yes, 10) new signings on show in pre-season. Consistent and dependable look to be two of Douglas' traits but he's also got a piercing delivery on him, good positional awareness and a great work ethic, which he'll certainly need when trudging up and down that left flank all season.

Championship life will be new for Douglas as well – and as with last summer's signings, some just won't work out – but at £1m Douglas could be the bargain of the summer.

Captain Coady

The standout performer, though, was arguably Conor Coady.

If you'd said in May that Coady would end pre-season in central defence, skippering the side and playing behind a £15m 20-year-old central midfielder who'd been courted by Chelsea they'd have carted you away, no questions asked.

But not only that, Coady was exceptional here. He had England striker Jamie Vardy in his pocket and produced the moment of the match when he somehow cleared off the line when it looked for all the world that Vardy would score.

It was reminiscent of the clearance he made against Nottingham Forest towards the end of last season and typified Coady's determination and resilience.

Nuno has identified the 24-year-old as someone who reads the game well, hence his new position. But Coady is also a good organiser and does the simple things well, rarely making mistakes.

He also gives more of a damn than most. You'll see him gleefully celebrating every goal scored and he's an infectiously positive presence in the dressing room.

After an indifferent first season and a second season in which he had to fill in at right back, could this new switch be the making of Coady?

Pre-season done

So that's pre-season done with. Six games, four wins, two defeats, five goals scored and four conceded.

Overall it's been pretty hit and miss but it was never going to be anything but with a new head coach, new formation, new playing style and 10 new players to mould together.

In terms of fitness it's certainly been very productive. The players have been worked incredibly hard but the Wolves staff are confident that at the end of it they'll have produced one of the division's fittest teams.

Defensively Wolves have been tough to break down and have ample choice at centre half. The final third has been an issue but the Leicester game felt like a breakthrough moment in that regard.

The standout players have been Coady and Cavaleiro, while Douglas and Neves have been the pick of the new signings. Matt Doherty, who could have scored a couple of goals yesterday, looks at home at right wing back and Jack Price and Nouha Dicko deserve mentions for their early pre-season form.

Are Wolves ready? In terms of recruitment...not quite, with that elusive striker still missing. But if they can reproduce this performance against Boro they won't be going far wrong.