By Joe Ellis

19th Oct, 2022 | 6:40am

View: 'Fabulous' Huge Bueno heaps pressure on Rayan Ait-Nouri at Wolves

With Rayan Ait-Nouri out through illness, Wolves were forced to call upon 20-year-old Spanish full-back Hugo Bueno against Crystal Palace.

Wanderers eventually fell to defeat at Selhurst Park as Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha proved match-winners for the Eagles but they had to come from behind as Bueno crossed exquisitely for Adama Traore in the first half.

Interim manager Steve Davis was impressed by the Spaniard as was The Athletic’s Steve Madeley who couldn’t speak highly enough of the youngster in the aftermath of the goal.

“Beautiful goal from Wolves and a fabulous assist from Bueno on his debut,” he said via his personal Twitter account. “Lovely touch by Podence allows Neves to spread play wide to the young Spaniard, who strides forward and crosses to the far post, where Adama arrives to finish.”

Ait-Nouri may have been sitting at home watching the game and wondering if he suddenly has a very genuine challenger for his place at Molineux as the 20-year-old shone with very little notice beforehand.

As Jeff Shi searches for a new manager, he might want to add a criteria for playing young talent from the club’s own academy if Bueno’s full debut is anything to go by.

Wolves did sign him as a teenager initially to be an attacking midfielder but such was the need for wing-backs under Nuno Espirito Santo, he ended up being converted and it has revolutionised his game.

Ait-Nouri, still only 21 himself, should return once he recovers from his illness but Davis and whoever tasks the role full-time after him will be hugely encouraged that someone in the youth setup is that ready to play from the off.

In other Wolves news, this scouting expert has suggested that the Wanderers simply could not refuse an offer they received in the summer.