Express & Star

Wolves' Adama Traore: Newcastle win was our just deserts

Wolves speedster Adama Traore insists the emphatic victory over Newcastle in China was the reward for their immense efforts in training in recent weeks.

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Traore, at right-wing-back, helped Nuno Espirito Santo's side to a 4-0 triumph against the Magpies in Nanjing on Wednesday.

The win – the goals coming in the form of a Diogo Jota double, a first senior strike for Morgan Gibbs-White and a Tom Allan own goal – saw them make it to Saturday's Premier League Asia Trophy final to face Manchester City in Shanghai.

And Traore said: "We’ve been working so hard before the game, to be honest.

"When you’re in training and you’re working hard, after that you feel better on the pitch.

“The staff have been doing great work, Nuno has been doing great work, and the team have been working so hard, and after you can see on the pitch how everyone is fit and how everyone wants to win.

"I think this mentality is very important as well.

“It’s always important to have positive results in pre-season. It’s always good to start positive, and I think that is great for the team.

“As a player, you’re working hard before the start of the season, so it’s been good to finally show what you can do and show the fans that we are ready for whatever is in front of us.

“It’s our first win in our first game, we’re happy, and we have to keep going.”

Wolves had to cope with high humidity but raced ahead – going into the interval three to the good.

Then, in the second half, several youngsters including Terry Taylor, Taylor Perry and Dion Sanderson got their first senior minutes.

“It was tough, to be honest, but it was good. It was good to get a win in the first game, it’s good to keep the fitness and good to have these sessions," added Traore, who went off in the 65th minute.

“The team have been doing a great job on the pitch and working so hard, but I’m so happy for the win and we want to keep going.

“In the first couple of minutes it was hard because you have to get used to this weather, and your body has to get used to it.

“After 15 or 20 minutes you get there, and you keep working. It’s about working, it’s about getting the fitness and I think every player on the pitch has been doing a great job, but we have to keep going.”