Wolves striker Fabio Silva determined to ignore his critics

Coming on as a half-time substitute, club-record £35million signing Silva came up with a brilliant finish as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side lost 3-2 to West Ham on Monday night.

It was the third goal in what has been a testing first season in gold and black for the 18-year-old.

Silva has come in for criticism along the way, but he is not listening to the negativity as he said: “The coach said to put some energy in the game, do the things I do in training, improve my football, enjoy being with the team, and when you are focused and work hard, good things come.

“I think the best moments come naturally. I work every day, my coach and my team-mates help me a lot.

“What other people say is not important for me, the most important for me is the moments come natural.

“I’m very happy to help the team with the goal.

“For a striker, it’s amazing and gives you more confidence to score, so I’m very happy.”

Silva’s strike – controlling Pedro Neto’s through-ball before finding the far corner – was his first since the Black Country derby defeat to Albion in January and ended a nine-game barren run.

The other of his three Wolves goals came from the penalty spot in the loss at Burnley in December.

He will now hope to be given an opportunity from the start, with fellow striker Willian Jose still yet to find the net since his loan arrival from Real Sociedad.

Up next for Wolves is a trip to third-bottom Fulham – who Nuno’s side are currently nine points clear of, having played a game fewer – on Friday night.

And Silva, whether he starts or not at Craven Cottage, has pointed out the need to begin a lot sharper than they did against the Hammers.

“I think in the first half the team didn’t go for the match, I think the team has to go to the pitch first half more focused, don’t give an advantage to the opposite team,” said Silva.

“But I think the team fought until the end and we have to be proud of the fight.

“If you’re losing 3-0, it’s too difficult to win the game, you have to have some luck, but now the team has to think of the next game, it’s the most important.

“We have eight games left, we want to do things good, and I think the team will go well now and have good games.

“The motivation is we have eight games left. The team have good things to do.

“A lot of games for points and to improve and I think the team have to get up, take the spirit and character of this game, and improve for the next match.”

Nuno, meanwhile, says Silva is ‘improving’ while reiterating that Wolves believe the teenager has massive potential.

Since being snapped up from Porto in a mega-money deal last summer and having a more prominent role than planned after main man Raul Jimenez’s injury, he has made 28 appearances across all competitions.

Nuno is also a fan of the youngster’s work rate.

“Yes, it was a good, good finish,” added Nuno.

“He’s improving. He’s had similar situations before which almost got the goal, and now he’s helped the team on that aspect – and with his fight.

“He’s a young lad that we have big hopes for. It requires a lot of work.”