In a recent interview (via The Express and Star), Nuno Espirito Santo backed his on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Willian Jose to improve and remained optimistic about his chances of success in the remainder of this Premier League campaign. Nuno said,
“He (Willian Jose) has to keep improving and committing himself to what he is doing.
“He is going to play, against a tough opponent and very good defenders.
“There are some things he has to challenge himself on and overcome.
“At the same time, the team is here to support him and to help him.
“What he is doing for the team is very good – and we need it. He is giving back, so things will go better.
“The only way is to commit everybody, so I am optimistic regarding Willian and his performance in the team.”
Willian Jose’s Underwhelming Loan Spell At Wolves
Willian Jose has endured a tough start to his loan spell at the Molineux Stadium since joining from Real Sociedad back in January. He is still waiting to net his first goal for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. The 29-year-old has struggled to be consistent with his performances for Wolves this season because he is averaging 0.8 clearances, 1.3 shots, 0.8 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per game in the Premier League. However, he deserves some credit for being tidy with his ball-distribution after making 82.6% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
The Brazilian frontman has struggled to fill the big shoes of Raul Jimenez, who is still out of action with a head injury. The injury absence of Daniel Podence has also been felt by the West Midlands club, which has not done Willian Jose’s chances of success any good recently. However, with Wolves picking up some form and winning three of their last four league matches, Nuno Espirito Santo has every reason to be optimistic that Willian Jose can turn his fortunes around for the better in the coming weeks.
What Does The Brazilian Sensation Bring To The Table?
Standing at 1.89m, Willian Jose can be a towering presence in the final third and has got the strength to overpower the opposition that helps him win some important aerial duels for his team. The Brazilian striker can head the ball accurately and is a decent finisher in front of the opponent’s goal when he is playing with confidence on the pitch. He also packs a lot of power with strikes at goal but needs to work a bit harder on running the channels in the attacking end of the pitch.
Does Willian Jose Have A Future At The Molineux?
The way Willian Jose has been playing of late, it is difficult to see why Wolves would even show interest in making his loan signing permanent next summer. If the Brazilian marksman can find some form and prove his worth in the Premier League over the next few months, Nuno Espirito Santo could be interested in retaining his services beyond this summer.
The West Midlands outfit has currently got Raul Jimenez as the club’s primary forward, but Fabio Silva is still quite inexperienced at the highest level. So if Willian Jose can justify his value by being a suitable back-up to Jimenez, there is no reason why he won’t have a bright future at the Molineux.
