Noha Lemina turned out for the Wolves U21s on Monday night – and journalist Liam Keen has given an honest verdict of the player and where he is currently at with his development.
Noha was the club’s only signing of the January transfer window, signing on loan from Paris Saint-Germain after a disappointing loan spell with Sampdoria.
The younger brother of Mario Lemina has not yet featured for the first-team, but has been in several of Gary O’Neil‘s matchday squads, amid a spate of injuries for the manager.
Mario recently admitted that Noha had struggled in his first week at the club, but did say that he had been improving lately.
On Monday night, Noha was given a run out for the U21s against Sunderland, and a chance to express himself having played very little so far this calendar year.
Some Wolves fans were wowed after seeing a clip of the youngster making a great run down the left before providing a cross that was gathered by the goalkeeper.
But journalist Liam Keen has provided some more information about his performance and where he’s currently at with his development…
Liam Keen drops honest Noha Lemina verdict after latest U21s performance
After signing late in January, Wolves fans have not really seen anything of Noha so far.
He was always being brought in as a prospect, and someone who could potentially play more further down the line.
But he was featuring for only the second time for the U21s against Sunderland on Monday, and journalist Liam Keen was present to cast his eye over the game.
In his eyes, Noha had some really good moments. For him though, a chance for him in the Premier League seems some way away yet.
He said on the E&S podcast: “He’s quick, he’s got good feet and he’s tricky. I think he looks a confident player who wants to impress and make things happen. There is 100% a raw talent in there. There’s lots of really good signs and moments that he had.
“The issue from Noha Lemina’s point of view is that ‘raw’ is the key word there for me.
“You have to watch the full game. I think he played about 70 minutes or so before he came off. The full picture is someone who’s got raw talent, but needs to work a lot on his fitness. He was out on his feet after 50/60 minutes. It’s clear he needs to work a lot on that.
“At this moment in time, in my opinion, he is nowhere near ready for Premier League football. I think he’s a long way off.
“From what I saw last night, despite a couple of good signs, unless Wolves are chasing a game and it’s a big game and they’re just throwing everyone on, I’d be surprised if he gets any minutes for Wolves in the Premier League this season.”
Patience required over Noha Lemina
It sounds very much as though Noha is still getting up to speed at the moment and that the chances of him turning out for Wolves – certainly as a regular player in the first-team – are very slim.
The teenager – who Wolves can reportedly buy this summer for around £1.7 million – was never signed to instantly be a first-team option though.
He has simply found himself on the bench lately because of injuries to the likes of Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-chan and Pedro Neto.
The suggestion from Keen on the podcast is that he would not be near the matchday squad if those players were fit and available.
There are still just under two months left of the season and so, there is time for Noha to make an impression. If he knuckles down, perhaps he can get some minutes right at the very end of the campaign, although you would imagine that O’Neil would only give him those minutes if the club aren’t in European contention at the time.