Creativity The Key

“Be creative” – that’s the message from Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo to his players as Wolves return to action after the international break to take on Millwall today (3pm).

One point from the last two league games has not taken the gloss of an impressive start to the season for Nuno and Wolves, ten points from the first five fixtures an excellent Sky Bet Championship return coupled with progress through two rounds of the Carabao Cup.

Millwall signed off before the international break with a 4-0 win against Norwich, and will arrive in good spirits for what Nuno expects to be a typically tough Championship encounter.

“September will be a tough month with games every few days – we know that – and at the same time we are ready for it,” said Nuno.

“It is about the squad, performing well, being ready for their chance.

“I am happy with the team spirit that we have.

“Millwall are a tough team, a physical team who have done well.

“Creativity is a big thing for us – we need to create and make enough chances against the teams that are trying to control us.

“Hopefully against Millwall we can be creative enough to play good football, compete well, and get the three points.

“We are back in front of our pack at Molineux, and hopefully together we can enjoy a good day of football.”

Today’s fixture is the first since the closure of the transfer window, which saw Wolves add highly-rated midfielder Alfred N’Diaye to the squad on deadline day.

It brought an end to a busy summer of activity which has underpinned Wolves’ promising start to the campaign.

“Alfred is another option for the midfield position who can help us,” explained Nuno.

“He is a good player who can do good things.

“It means we have lots of options with Ruben (Neves), Saiss, Jack, Conor.

“For me the window was not about the last few days but about being ready from the beginning.

“A lot of players came in and they have had time to adapt.

“The market wasn’t about the last few days, it was about what we did from day one and I am happy with the squad.”

Nuno is not one to be overly concerned at the fortnight of club inactivity due to the international break, acknowledging it is ‘part of the calendar’ for which everything is fully prepared.

“We have a few individual issues with some players missing the game, and the next game, or a bit longer,” he explains.

“But for me it is not about the international break – we knew the calendar.

“The players that went away have come back o-k and we have carried on working well.

“Every day here is a good day for the training – whether it is during competition or the international break, every day is well prepared.

“We think a lot and try to engage the players to make the most out of every training session.”

Of those currently on the sidelines. Willy Boly misses out against Millwall with a hamstring injury.

Kortney Hause is back in training but, “not yet 100 per cent,” while Phil Ofosu-Ayeh has had to go undergo surgery on his troublesome ankle injury.

Nuno says the initial estimate is that his absence will be prolonged by “three to four months”.

WOLvMIL