DON’T MOVE YOUR MUSCLE
Adama has to stay
SYLVAN EBANKS-BLAKE says Wolves must keep hold of “menace” Adama Traore if they are to burst into the top six this season.
And the former Molineux hitman believes the return of striker Raul Jimenez after his recovery from a fractured skull will also provide the spark needed to get over last term’s disappointing 13th-place finish.
Inspirational boss Nuno Espirito Santo departed the club over the summer.
He will be in the opposing dugout today when Tottenham come to town looking to inflict back-to-back defeats on his old side after their opening-day loss to Leicester.
Tottenham are also reported to be interested in £45million-rated Traore but Ebanks-Blake says it’s crucial that Wolves keep the Spain star to help Jimenez thrive on his return following a year out.
“Losing Traore, especially at this point in the window, would be a big blow,” he said. “But this is football.
“Sometimes players want to move on and want a fresh challenge.
“There are times that can work for the club as well but in this case you need to keep him.
“Traore is a menace when he’s on his game and the link-up he can have with Jimenez could be lethal.
“I want to see that again this season, all Wolves fans want to see them link up.
“The ambition of Wolves since they’ve come back has been to stay in that top six and then push on.
“There will be patience needed this season but Jimenez getting back is a massive plus because last year they missed a striker who just craves goals.
“It’s part of the reason it was such a mixed season.”
New head coach Bruno Lage was pretty cutting with his own comments about Traore’s poor finishing after missing a couple of glaring opportunities against Leicester eight days ago.
“If he scored those chances he would not be at Wolves, he would be at a top team,” said the Portuguese.
But Ebanks-Blake
(right) is in no doubt about what the TraoreJimenez axis could bring.
“They will deliver goals and assists and I want to see them linking together in front of a packed Molineux because they will get fans off their seats and make the place electric again,” he added. “With Traore, he is one of those players who is a coach’s dream. He is always learning and developing. “Some players come and they are the finished article. Traore has worked on his game and developed. “Last season was mixed but he still wants to develop and it would be a shame to lose him. With the Wolves fans back in the ground and with another year of Premier League experience, Traore could be anything what he wants to be because he has frightening ability. “And with Jimenez back up top, once we have patience with him and let him get back in the groove he will get goals again. For me it’s about patience with him. “Unfortunately in the Premier League you don’t get much and it’s very unforgiving.”