Wolves right wing-back Nelson Semedo is having an exceptional season under Gary O’Neil, and the Portuguese star has translated that form onto the international stage.
An FA Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Coventry City can’t damage what has been an excellent season at Wolves.
Gary O’Neil was drafted in from the cold in the summer, taking over a squad expected to fight against relegation, but the 40-year-old has flipped those expectations on their head by dragging the Wanderers towards Europe.
Currently three points behind seventh-place West Ham, there’s a great chance Wolves could be playing some sort of European football next season and one player who has contributed heavily to that chance is Nelson Semedo.
Hailed by teammate Max Kilman as “top quality”, the former Barcelona defender has reached ridiculously high levels for Wolves this term and is one of O’Neil’s most improved players.
Now on duty with Portugal, the 30-year-old has translated his incredible form onto the international stage.
Nelson Semedo grabs two assists for Portugal against Sweden
Portugal played a friendly match against Sweden last night and ran out as 5-2 winners.
Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes, Bruma, Goncalo Ramos and former Wolves star Matheus Nunes all scored while Semedo laid on two assists.
The first of those saw him breeze past Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga down the right flank, jink back and have the presence of mind to wait for Bruno Fernandes before sliding the ball across to him for a tap-in.
For his second, Semedo was found in acres of space down the right wing, crossing into the path of Goncalo Ramos, who swept the ball past a despairing Robin Olsen.
The fastest player in the Premier League over the age of 30, Semedo had an enjoyable night, but he wasn’t the only Wolves player to feature in that resounding win as centre-back Toti Gomes came off the bench.
Toti Gomes plays 45 minutes for Portugal vs Sweden
Gomes is another player at Molineux who has improved significantly under O’Neil this season.
The 25-year-old, who is normally used as a left centre-back at Wolves, was utilised as a left-back for Portugal, replacing Nuno Mendes for the second half.
This was his second appearance for the national side after making his debut in November last year against Lichtenstein, and Gomes gave a good account for himself.
He won two of his ground duels, made four clearances and recorded an 87% pass completion – the sort of numbers we’re used to seeing at Molineux.