Shropshire Star

Wolves boss Nuno talks Leo Bonatini, Danny Batth, debutants and cup progress after Carabao Cup win

Nuno Espirito Santo was pleased for Wolves striker Leo Bonatini to end his goal drought – and insisted Danny Batth is still in his plans.

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Bonatini scored his first goal since December, ending a 27-game barren run, as Wolves beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 in the Carabao Cup second round.

Helder Costa was also on the scoresheet in a comfortable win for a much-changed team.

Nuno said of the game: "We're all satisfied – there are a lot of positives; a starting XI with youth, players playing for the first time, good answers.

"The main thing is the team competed well and went through...the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, they're all important to us because they're games and we take positives and negatives from every game we play."

Bonatini opened the scoring on 53 minutes with his first strike since December 4 last year.

Nuno said: "It's very good. A goal is always a goal, it gives confidence to the player, but he has my confidence – that is more important.

"You know me...goal, important yes, he did a good job but it goes much further than that. It's about the team.

And Nuno was pleased to be reminded that he still hasn't conceded a goal in the Carabao Cup as Wolves boss: "Incredible! I didn't realise that.

"For us it was a good game. Every time a player wears the shirt of Wolves he knows what he has to do, he's inside of the shape and works very hard.

"I'm very happy with the answers and we'll work on our mistakes."

Four players – new £12m signing Leander Dendoncker and youngsters Elliot Watt, Pedro Goncalves and Benny Ashley-Seal – made their Wolves debuts.

Nuno said of his youngsters: "We started pre-season with all these players so we anticipate things, they don't have to prove nothing to nobody

"Some are u23s, they're our back-ups, they have quality and talent and have to work.

"It's the first time officially but they play against Ajax and Basel in pre-season, big teams."

Batth was surprisingly omitted from the squad and has yet to feature in a matchday 18 this season.

"That's a decision," Nuno said. "Danny is the captain of the club, I already spoke with him. He didn't come today...options. We have to make decisions. Sometimes they are not so happy to take (them) but we have to make them. Leander had his first game, Kortney played, Coady, Bennett on the bench, Boly at home. Decisions.

And when asked if Batth was part of his plans the head coach replied: "Every player of Wolves including the under-23s and under-18s are inside my plans."