The defender is Nuno Espirito Santo’s leader on the pitch and takes his role seriously, setting an example and motivating the group, particularly immediately before a matchday. The 27-year-old captains a group of “clever” players and revels in the role of walking Wolves out, ready for battle, each matchday in old gld.
On his captaincy style
“I am a talker. As a captain, I’m not a shouter and bawler, I would never dig people out, I’m there to help and try to encourage because I’m the first to look at myself when things aren’t going well.
“Before a game it’s about trying to motivate and trying to create a bit of an atmosphere. All the lads realise how important the Premier League is, and every game is, but it’s important to create a feeling within the dressing room that we’re going in to war – that’s the biggest thing now.”
On helping those around him
“For me, it’s important I organise, it’s a big part of my game, in the position I play in. It’s something the manager asks of me and anything he asks, I’ll try my best to do. That’s a massive part of how we want to play because I can see the whole game in front of me.
“If I can help someone five or ten percent, to try and move them in to position, play them a pass or pull them back, then it’s important. It’s the way my game’s evolved over the last few years, that’s become a massive part of my game. The way I talk is a part of how we play, not just how I captain.”
On carrying out the manager’s instructions
“We all know our jobs and the manager talks about tasks within the team and game – we all have our tasks and within that you have different jobs in a game. How the game is going will dictate what type of job you do.
“He’s flexible in terms of wanting you to adapt to the game you’re playing, because very game’s different, but at the same time he wants you to stick to the tasks that he’s given. We have a flexible team and really clever footballers within the team, but at the same time we stick to the tasks that day.”
On welcoming new players as captain
“When lads first come in, I think it’s important that they get a helping hand. Obviously, with the news and social media, you know when people are signing. As soon as you hear the get-go, I make sure I give them a message or a call, to make sure he knows where I am in case he needs me for anything.
“They ask about the area, settling in, training – it’s important there’s a helping hand, making sure they feel comfortable coming into the club – it is tough, but if there’s friendly faces and people you can talk to, it’s important – making sure they don’t think they’re coming into the club alone.”
