Silva lining has Moutinho set for Cloud Nine
Joao Moutinho has urged Wolves’ record buy, Fabio Silva, to express himself and is relishing looking after the club’s young stars.
The midfielder knows Silva can shine in the Premier League and his next chance comes today with a trip to West Ham.
Silva, 18, became Wolves’ record signing when he joined from Porto in a deal worth £35-million this month, while defender Ki-jana Hoever, 18, completed a £9m switch from Liverpool.
Striker Silva missed a sitter on his debut as Wolves lost to Stoke in the Carabao Cup earlier this month, but Moutinho expects him to prove himself.
“He has great potential. He’s a young guy who needs to continue to work, to show the qualities he has,” he said.
“I think he has everything to show how good he is, and we will try to help him improve and learn every day with us – and with Raul Jimenez as they play the same position.
“It’s important because young players come and like to learn. I think it’s great to have him.”
Nelson Semedo is in line for a debut after joining from Barcelona this week as Wolves look to hit back after a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Monday.
West Ham assistant Alan Irvine believes testing labs are “stretched to the limit” amid delays over Premier League clubs receiving their results.
The Hammers will be without manager David Moyes as well as players Issa Diop and Josh Cullen, who all tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday.
News of those results only came through an hour before the club’s Carabao Cup tie with Hull.
On the lateness in getting back their results, Irvine said: “That was a shock to us. Normally the test results have come back very quickly.
“I think the labs are now finding it a bit more difficult because of the amount of tests they are having to do for people outside of football.
“They are being stretched to the limit.” With Moyes self- isolating, Irvine will be the lead figure on the touchline at the London Stadium, but the former Everton boss will manage remotely.
“We will look at the best way of working so he is in touch with us during the game,” Irvine revealed.