ADULT CHAT LINE
Wolves spent a fortune on foreign imports to fire them into Prem, but the talent of local kid Morgan could prove priceless in keeping them up
WOLVES’ expensive Portuguese revolution has swept them into the Premier League.
But a young homegrown English talent could prove the catalyst for keeping them there.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, loaded with players from the manager’s native Portugal, were sliding down the table after five defeats in six games despite spending £80million after promotion.
That dire run ended with a 2-1 win over Chelsea when they came from behind and teenager Morgan GibbsWhite excelled.
The huge hug from his boss and the ovation from the crowd at his 72ndminute withdrawal spoke volumes for his contribution.
Making his first Premier League start, the attacking midfielder dragged Wolves back into the game with a crucial assist for Raul Jimenez to level.
But the 18-year-old’s balance on the ball, fearlessness and ability to drive forward, breathed life into a side who were in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.
Skipper Conor Coady, who came through the ranks at Liverpool, said: “He’s brilliant. He’s come on before and shown how good he is and how good he can be. What struck me most about him against Chelsea was – we all know he has the technical ability to change games – how he worked his head.
“He’s played in that central role and taken the game by the scruff of the neck again.
“He’s gone and done it again and been clever, not just in terms of having the ball but being disciplined.
“Having that to his game is very important as well. He is a brilliant lad and you have seen the ability he has got, he has such a bright future ahead of him.”
Gibbs-White had been pressing for a start after being one of the few Wolves players to shine when he came on in both of the previous defeats Huddersfield and Cardiff.
He got the nod against Chelsea because Portuguese star midfielder Ruben Neves was suspended.
Santo tweaked his formation from 4-3-3 to 3-4-1-2 to accommodate GibbsWhite playing as a No.10.
His display will not have gone unnoticed at the FA, with that role arguably the last missing link in Gareth Southgate’s side at the World Cup.
Gibbs-White, who in January signed a new contract running until 2022, is an England Under-17 World Cup winner and could be in the frame for a call-up to the seniors with pundits such as Gary Lineker and Danny Murphy raving about him.
He was a threat from the start on Wednesday and left Cesc Fabregas and N’Golo Kante trailing to drive at the Chelsea defence and play in Jimenez – becoming the youngest player to provide an assist in the Premier League since Francis Jeffers for Everton in 1999.
Wolves legend and record scorer Steve Bull said of the youngster: “Morgan can be a box-to-box presence we’re lacking. I’d back him to handle the occasion.” to Man City Liverpool Tottenham Chelsea Arsenal Everton Bournemouth Man Utd Leicester Brighton Watford WOLVES
West Ham Newcastle Crystal Palace Cardiff Huddersfield Southampton Burnley Fulham P W 15 13 15 12 15 11 15 9 15 9 15 6 15 7 15 6 15 6 15 6 15 6 15 5 15 5 15 3 15 3 15 3 15 2 15 1 15 2 15 2 D 2 3 0 4 4 5 2 5 4 3 2 4 3 4 3 2 4 6 3 3 L 0 0 4 2 2 4 6 4 5 6 7 6 7 8 9 10 9 8 10 10 F 45 30 28 31 34 21 25 24 21 19 18 15 20 12 11 14 10 13 14 15 A Pts 7 41 6 39 16 33 13 31 20 31 17 23 22 23 25 23 18 22 21 21 21 20 18 19 23 18 20 13 20 12 30 11 26 10 29 9 32 9 36 9