Express & Star

Comment: World is taking note of Wolves’ wonders

Wolves fans have long been waxing lyrical about how great Nuno Espirito Santo and his players are – and now the nation believes the hype.

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Nuno has won the Premier League Manager of the Month award for September.

Wing-back Matt Doherty has received the PFA Fans’ Premier League Player of the Month gong as well, while rock-solid defender Willy Boly was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month accolade – given to Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard.

The wider footballing world has very much stood up and taken notice of the goings-on at Molineux. Interest in the club is definitely on the rise.

Fosun and Nuno’s dream of making Wolves recognised across the globe, by establishing themselves as a top-flight force, could well be on its way to becoming a reality.

Nuno was not just up against any old managers for his award either.

The Portuguese chief got it ahead of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Unai Emery – a bevy of bosses that are household names, with trophies coming out of their ears.

And that truly is a testament to the exceptional job Nuno is doing.

Wolves recorded victories against West Ham, Burnley and Southampton – and a draw at Manchester United – to sway the voting in his favour, showing vastly promising qualities in each of them.

A never-say-die attitude saw substitute Adama Traore grab the winner at West Ham.

They utterly dominated Burnley – 1-0 flattered the Clarets. Had it not been for the reinvigorated Joe Hart, it could well have been five or six.

A complete confidence in their abilities was on display from the players at Old Trafford and they kept their cool to break down the resilient Saints.

There has been absolutely no evidence of them just being happy to be among the top flight’s glamour and merely making up the numbers.

Matt Doherty is PFA player of the month (AMA)

And that especially applies to Doherty.

The Irishman has been with the club since 2010 and gone through plenty of lows – dropping down to League One – in order to revel in the highs.

He grabbed his first Premier League goal in last weekend’s triumph at Crystal Palace but, while obviously delighted, there was no sense of him getting carried away and deferring from the task at hand.

Doherty is determined to squeeze every ounce out of his long-awaited shot at the big time.

His defending has been firm and his attacking full of intent.

Some rather questionable comments from Republic of Ireland gaffer Martin O’Neill appear to have spurred him on even further.

So his recognition is vastly deserved too.

Boly may not have won the honour he was up for, but that does not mean he deserves any less praise then Nuno and Doherty.

Willy Boly was only beaten by Eden Hazard (AMA)

The Frenchman looks as if he has been playing at the elite level of the game for years.

He is yet to be given the runaround in old gold.

At this rate, Wolves may well end up being a lot of people’s second-favourite team.

Displaying no fear, trusting in a philosophy no matter who the opponent is – what’s not to like?

We probably have not seen Premier League newcomers be so bold since Blackpool came up for the 2010/11 campaign.

Like this Wolves team, the Tangerines were adamant about playing free-flowing, attacking football.

They were easy on the eye, but Nuno’s crop have the backbone to boot.

And if they carry on in the same vein, expect to see Nuno and some of his stars to be in contention for many more prestigious awards.