Traore has been disappointing but Santo should stop trying to make him a striker

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Wolves flier Adama Traore says that his manager Nuno Santo wants to turn him into a striker, according to the Shropshire Star.

The former Middlesbrough man has admitted that he has not been good enough since his club-record move to Molineux in the summer.

And he says his demanding manager wants to see improvement from him so he can field him as a striker for the Old Gold.

Traore said: “I think I can do miles better. Nuno wants me to improve so I can play as a striker and I think I can do it. We spent a lot of time talking about which was the best position for me to be able to explode.”

Traore was one of the best wingers in the Championship last season and when he is one against one with a defender out wide, there aren’t many who can stop him.

But he isn’t a striker. He shines when he can dribble in space and lay on crosses for team-mates to rush onto. Nuno used a 3-4-2-1 system last season – and Traore could have played as one of the two widemen there.

In his current 3-5-2, Traore doesn’t fit in as a striker – it just doesn’t suit him. Santo shouldn’t change his system to suit one – underperforming – player, but maybe Traore can be used as a plan B when more width is required.

Traore, to his credit, seems keen to adapt to his new position but it isn’t a good fit at all. And Wolves fans may never see his best form if he is continually shoehorned into a centre-forward role.