Returning loanees have added a much-needed freshness to Wolves, which has served them well in the opening three months of the season, according to one of them in Marshall Munetsi.
The Zimbabwe international has returned from Paris FC to feature in every Championship game so far but isn’t the only returning player making an impact. Fer Lopez, who was back at Celta Vigo for the winter, has arguably been the standout performer, while Nasser Djiga has impressed since his Rangers stint and Tommy Doyle, at Birmingham City last season, has proved his worth in Old Gold too.
Of late, Wolves matches have been a battlefield. In typically competitive Championship fixtures, Munetsi came to the fore in the heart of the midfield and a six-match unbeaten run has left the Old Gold one point off the summit, which represents a positive start.
For Munetsi, being back at Molineux has brought peace of mind following a period of uncertainty while back in France – the 30-year-old has started all but one of the club’s Championship fixtures – and he believes the reintroduction of players not necessarily scarred by the end of last season has done the group good.
“With the difficulties we had last year, it was tough for everybody at the club, but us coming back, we came with a bit of freshness,” he explained. “It's important to play for this big club, the ambitions are clear, and you have to do right by the club and make sure that we put it back in the Premier League – this is the main objective.
“Everyone is focused on that and the goal is the same. With our manager, he's very demanding; in training sessions you can see the energy that he brings, he wants to make sure that the club goes back to its rightful place. This is very important for all the players, and everyone knows what we are playing for.
“Unfortunately, we've been having a lot of injuries, but we haven't really seen the difference because everybody's been raising up their hand to make sure we keep fighting and keep collecting as many points as we can while the other guys are coming back.
“This is good from the management of the club. They did a good job by making sure that we have at least two players in every position. The fixtures are very congested, we have to play every couple days, so having depth in the team allows us to be competitive.”
Munetsi and Andre have been the midfield constant for Wolves this term and, more often than not, Lopez has operated ahead of them in a freer role. Against Watford and Cardiff City it was a little different, with Jordan James the third option in there, but such is Cesar Peixoto’s strength in depth, rather than detract from the team, the system just presented different options.
The flexibility of both, and options at the head coach’s disposal, mean whatever combinations are selected on a matchday, those in Old Gold are confident of getting a result, knowing everyone inside the dressing room is desperate to do their bit for the cause.
“I think we have good combinations, no matter who plays. This is the message from the manager, we have to make sure that if you have 45 minutes in your legs, you’re using everything. Jordan came in, and me and Andre combined with him very well, and I think you could see the intensity when we were pressing. We have a really strong midfield, so no matter who plays, we’ll try to win every game.
“One of Andre’s greatest qualities is he gives us a lot of stability, we know we have the licence to go forward, knowing that Andre is behind. Even with the goal scored [against Watford], you saw how he gives balance with the ball he played to ‘Tripps’ [Kieran Trippier]. Without the ball, the manager demands a lot for him to make sure that we have that stability, especially to stop all the transitions the opponents will be trying to play.”
Life in the Championship is new for many members of the Old Gold squad. The majority of Munetsi’s career has been spent in the 18-team Ligue 1. The most games he’s played in a single season is 36 and, yet Saturday’s Wrexham appearance was his 17th already this term. Throw his four September outings for Zimbabwe into the mix and it’s been some shift already.
But availability and stamina are elements of the game Munetsi prides himself on, and while the recent schedule hasn’t allowed much time on the training pitch, playing games is welcome when you’re picking up points, which Wolves have done in their last three games.
“This league is crazy because you have to play every two or three days, you really don't have time to train and recover, so the important thing is that, from the manager's perspective, he has at least two good players in every position, to make sure that whoever is ready to play plays, and if you're tired, you know somebody comes in, so with the congested schedule, this will allow us to keep pushing.”
Munetsi has now linked up with Zimbabwe for two AFCON qualifiers against Equatorial Guinea, before the Championship returns with a vengeance with three games in a week to kick-start a critical point of the campaign.
