Alan Shearer believes one Wolves star actually looks ‘a completely different player’ under Gary O’Neil following an amazing season so far.
Several players at Molineux have really shone this term in O’Neil’s first season in charge.
Many anticipated it would be a season of struggle, after Julen Lopetegui walked out just days before the 2023/24 season got underway. But O’Neil came in, steadied the ship and has improved a number of stars considerably.
Just lately, Rayan Ait-Nouri has been the talk of the town for the way he’s stepped up with key players out injured.
But the likes of Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes have regularly come in for praise for their work in the midfield.
Wherever you look, there are players who have improved under O’Neil – and Alan Shearer has picked one out who he thinks looks ‘completely different’…
Alan Shearer lauds ‘outstanding’ Wolves star Matheus Cunha after Nottingham Forest draw
On Saturday, Wolves played out a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground – and it was quite the day for Matheus Cunha.
Cunha was back starting for Wolves for the first time since suffering his ‘significant’ hamstring injury.
He had made cameo appearances against Burnley and West Ham United. But against Forest he started – and scored two goals, his first being very special indeed.
Wolves looked more of a threat than they have in recent games, and his quality is crystal clear, even though he isn’t 100% match sharp yet.
Cunha’s first goal was of the highest quality, with Lemina branding it the Goal of the Season.
The Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer Alan Shearer has included Cunha in his latest Team of the Week, and said of the Brazilian (via premierleague.com): “Looks like a completely different player under Gary O’Neil. He showed outstanding skill and a great finish for the first goal, and good striker’s instincts for the second.”
Cunha has transformed under O’Neil
Cunha has been one of the biggest player success stories this season at Wolves, without a shadow of a doubt.
The Brazilian arrived at the club in January 2023 for a huge fee of around £44 million and so, there was immediate pressure on him to deliver.
Some fans were left questioning him when he struggled in the beginning. Cunha would spurn a lot of chances, and plenty felt concerned that Wolves had vastly overpaid.
But he’s now one of Wolves’ best and most important players
We have seen the difference when he is missing from the team, and now that he’s back, fans can tentatively hope for a top 10 finish again.