Teen Matheson still pinching himself
IT’S BEEN a whirlwind few months for teenage sensation Luke Matheson but there’s no chance of Wolves’ January capture getting carried away.
Scoring against Manchester United at Old Trafford, passing his driving test and completing a move from League One Rochdale in a deal worth up to £3million is a journey which would probably faze most youngsters.
But Matheson, still only 17, is happy to be back on loan at Spotland until the end of the season with his somehow still level head.
And it’s been that way ever since he became Rochdale’s youngest ever debutant aged 15 years and 336 days when he came off the bench against Bury in the EFL Trophy in September 2018.
Keith Hill, now in charge at Bolton, was the man who first spotted Matheson’s potential as Rochdale manager. He didn’t think twice about launching him into the senior side despite still taking his GCSEs at school.
“He is a humble lad but one who is self driven and wants to make the most of his life on and off the pitch,” said Hill.
“There’s no way being signed by Wolves will change him as a person either. I think it’s a great signing for Wolves and it’s also a great boost for young British talent.
“It also shows that you can still pick up good players in the lower leagues. They are there but Luke has always been outstanding from a young age.
“I have no doubts that he can go to the very top. What’s more, Luke believes that without being boastful about it.” Matheson’s current Rochdale boss, Brian Barry-Murphy, is delighted that the right wing-back, seen as an eventual successor to Molineux star Matt Doherty, will have a few more months under his coaching.
“He’s obviously a superstar in the making and he’s going to go far beyond my level of football,” admitted Barry-Murphy.
Matheson himself is very grateful to Dale for giving him his chance.
He said: “I owe Rochdale everything. They didn’t have to take a punt on an eight-year-old, a kid who back then was still wearing glasses.
“I don’t see myself as a big superstar. I’ve done nothing yet in the football world.” His “nothing in the football world” includes scoring a dramatic equaliser for the Spotland side against Manchester United earlier in the season in the Carabao Cup and then setting up a goal against Newcastle which clinched a money-spinning FA Cup third round replay at St James’ Park.
He added: “Everything has happened so quickly and I’ve got to keep doing the things that have got me to Wolves. “Everything I have done at Rochdale has prepared me for the next step. It’s great being back at Rochdale to gain more experience. Football is my life. “It means everything to me but it won’t change me.”
WOLVES skipper Conor Coady insists referees and players still remain baffled by VAR. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were held to a goalless draw by 10-man Leicester on Friday after Willy Boly’s goal was disallowed.
The defender’s first-half header was chalked off after a video review showed Pedro Neto’s ankle was offside in the build-up.
It was the second time this season Wolves had seen a goal ruled out by VAR against Leicester after Leander Dendoncker’s strike in the 0-0 draw on the opening day of the season was also disallowed.
“I don’t think the referees know what’s going on and we don’t know what’s going on,” said Coady (below with ref Mike Dean). “We should have won the game, it’s as simple as that, but we don’t understand the decision, but it’s been made and that’s twice against Leicester now this season.
“We felt it was cruel at their place as well. I don’t want to speak about VAR too much. I’ve spoken about it before and it doesn’t really get you anywhere.” Wolves, who sit seventh in the Premier League, still could have won after Hamza Choudhury was sent off 14 minutes from time for receiving a second yellow card, with Raul Jimenez heading wide and Kasper Schmeichel denying sub Adama Traore. “They’re a fantastic team. They’ve done brilliantly all season, have a brilliant manager and brilliant players,” added Coady.
“It wasn’t the fact they were down to 10 men. It was the fact that we kept on going, we kept on playing how we want to and showed our character.” Leicester remain third, nine points ahead of Chelsea, despite winning just one of their last five top-flight games.