Former Sunderland forward Kevin Phillips has questioned what the future has in store for Daniel Podence at Molineux, as he tipped the Wolverhampton Wanderers winger to leave the club on loan next season.
Phillips is fearful that Podence may not be awarded as much game time as the 24-year-old would like if he were to remain at Molineux next term, having seen manager Nuno Espirito Santo only favour the former Portugal youth international in two starting line-ups this league season to date.
Each of Podence’s inclusions in one of Espirito Santo’s Premier League starting line-ups have come in Wolves’ two most recent top-flight encounters, with the first of which seeing the January arrival pen his first top-flight assist for the West Midlands outfit as they beat Everton 3-0.
Podence would appear to not be short of potential suitors if he were to consider a spell away from Molineux, as reports by the Mirror have suggested Scottish Premiership champions Celtic have enquired about a loan deal with a list of clubs hot on their heels.
A spell in Neil Lennon’s Hoops would be good for Podence, in the view of Phillips, who is assured Celtic would not be alone in courting the Sporting CP product.
“He should go out on loan,” Phillips told Football Insider. “He has enjoyed a season of being a part of what has been an amazing season for Wolves and he will have learned a lot.
“He has not played a lot of football and next season is it really going to change? Traore might be sold but it looks unlikely at this moment. I would want to play football.
“I could see that move happening but there will be a few clubs queuing up to take Podence, I am sure.”
Should Podence go out on loan next season?
Yes
No
On the basis of Podence’s performances up until his first start for Wolves, Phillips would be right in suggesting a loan spell away from Molineux would be good for the forward.
However, given Espirito Santo’s recent willingness to favour the player he signed for £16.6million in January, Podence may feel that opportunities to play regularly in the West Midlands are coming and that they will only increase in frequency next term so long as he impresses over the final fixtures.
Podence showed aspects of what he is capable of in Wolves’ win over Everton the last time the club played on home soil, with the 24-year-old striking two of his three shots on target, beating opponents with four of his five attempted dribbles and playing 23 accurate passes, per WhoScored data.
The winger may have then been less productive away to Burnley last time out, but Podence still managed two shots, one key pass, a successful dribble and was only dispossessed on the one occasion, and now has a platform to which he can truly build from.
Ok Kevin. You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about or any concept of what it’s like to play for a top European club. There really should be a cap on the amount of “pundits” employed in the game. Nowadays its any old ar##hole that’s kicked a ball in the last 20 years
I could not have put it any better.
KP has always been a bum, what is it with these ex players wanting to sell or loan out our players, are they scared we will achieve more than their old clubs could ever dream about like the unmentionables up the road and Sunderland.
Shut up Kevin a retire gracefully.