Wednesday 8 February 2017 22:52, UK
Wolves will be relying on another big performance from their club record signing Helder Costa when they host Newcastle United at Molineux on Saturday. But how good is the Portuguese winger? Adam Bate assesses Costa's stay in England so far...
Wolves were deserved winners against Liverpool at Anfield last month and Helder Costa was the man of the match. He set up both goals but it was the sight of him cutting the Liverpool defence apart in going close to scoring a wonder goal that really got the country talking.
Not that Wolves boss Paul Lambert was too surprised. "He has been playing like that for weeks," he said afterwards. The club promptly confirmed that the Portuguese loanee had become the club's £13m record signing soon after. A big fee but the fans were thrilled.
Costa's team-mates are happy too. Andreas Weimann describes him as "up there with the best that I have played with" and the experienced David Edwards echoes those sentiments. "He is, since I've been here, the best player I've seen," said the Wales midfielder last week.
It has not all been celebrations at Molineux this season. Kenny Jackett was sacked on the eve of the season and his replacement Walter Zenga was gone in October as the team's 13 summer signings - nine of them arriving from abroad - took time to settle.
Costa was among them. "As a foreign kid in Britain," said Lambert, "he's been exceptional." But his predecessor had to ease him into it. Indeed, the 23-year-old winger did not start any of Wolves' first five fixtures as the likes of Joao Teixeira initially made the bigger impression.
But he scored within six minutes of his first start in the EFL Cup tie against Cambridge United and added a fine goal in his first Championship away start too as Wolves shocked Newcastle United 2-0 at St James' Park. However, the real surge in form has come under Lambert.
After getting three goals and two assists in 15 games before the current coach's appointment, Costa has scored seven goals and provided six assists in his 15 appearances since. He now tops the Wolves charts for assists, shots, chances created and dribbles.
The signing from Benfica has been afforded greater freedom under Lambert and the team is playing to his strengths. Wolves direct 44 per cent of their attacks down Costa's right flank and he has responded to this responsibility with some big goals.
As well as the performance at Anfield and the goal at Newcastle, Costa has also found the net away to Aston Villa, Stoke City and Nottingham Forest. There have been goals in front of the Sky Sports cameras against Derby County and Queens Park Rangers.
That habit of loving the limelight is a good one and bodes well. Wolves host Chelsea at Molineux in the fifth round of the FA Cup next week but first it is Championship leaders Newcastle who are the visitors for the 5.30pm kick off on Saturday.
So how good can he go on to be? One of the reasons why Costa's signing is regarded as sound business even at £13m is that he has already done enough to suggest that he can cope in the Premier League. As a result, Wolves will expect to recoup their investment.
The hope, of course, is that having signed a deal until 2021 he'll get there in a Wolves shirt. But pragmatism rules even within Costa's own dressing room. "We'd love him to be with us for all of that and be in the Premier League," said Edwards, quoted in the Express and Star.
"You've got to look at it honestly as well and think if he has this season and next season and we're not in the Premier League it's going to be time for him to move. I think the fans would accept that." In the meantime, Costa can do his thing - starting with Newcastle on Saturday.
