Neill Collins: New Wolves boss Nuno takes no prisoners

Collins did his coaching badges with Nuno in 2011, just before the Portuguese boss took his first foray into management with Rio Ave.

And the Tampa Bay Rowdies centre half, who keeps a close eye on developments at Molineux where he won promotion to the Premier League under Mick McCarthy, says Nuno has his work cut at his new job.

"I spent some time with Nuno and he's a really nice guy," Collins said of their Uefa B licence course.

"At the time he'd been third choice keeper at Porto under Jose Mourinho so we got a great insight into Jose.

"One thing I'll always remember in that he was pretty forthright in how he made his demands.

"It was certainly something the assessors mentioned.

"I think it's the continental way – they don't stand on ceremony.

"It wasn't long after that he got the Rio Ave job and he took Ian Cathro – the current Hearts boss – with him as he'd met him on the couse.

"Nuno came across as a decent guy, he was pretty open.

"In terms of the Championship I suspect it will be a possession-based, high-pressing game, all the buzz words you expect people to say these days."

Wolves endured a turbulent 2016/17 season with Fosun sacking three managers and spending £27million on a team that finished 15th.

Collins believes recruitment will be absolutely crucial if Nuno is to oversee a successful season.

"You always fear for people coming into the Championship," the Scot added.

"You don't need to have played or managed it it before – David Wagner proved that.

"But it would be an anomaly to hit the ground running, especially in terms of what's happened with recruitment.

"I keep a close eye on Wolves and have been in touch with Rob Edwards, Richard Stearman and others.

"I got the impression there were a lot of insipid displays last season. I know the Wolves fans like fast-flowing attacking football, goals and action.

"So to finish the season the way they did, and now you've got the upturn and upheaval, it doesn't stand them in good stead.

"Generally successful teams in the Championship go from strength to strength. Huddersfield started to build under Wagner and Brighton did it a couple of years running.

"At Wolves it feels like they're starting from scratch."

Wolves have attracted criticism for the signings they made last season, with only Helder Costa and Ben Marshall consistently impressing, while the influence of agent Jorge Mendes has also come under scrutiny.

Collins added: "You can't just go out and buy names – look at Villa last year.

"I think there's got to be a real distinct plan – it'll be really interesting to see how they do.

"When players join a club they've got to impress the other players and then the supporters. It happens when anyone joins – 'what's this guy like, what can he do?'.

"If they can't cope with the physical, relentless Championship, if they're not up to it and don't have the right attitude it can be divisive in the changing room.

"When we signed Michael Kightly at Wolves...bringing in someone from Grays wasn't exactly appetising. But when we saw how he could play and the attitude he brought, he won over the players and then the fans straight away.

"If you're bringing in foreigners and they don't produce the goods it can run through the club quite quickly."