'O'Neil and his players are building a strong connection'

Mike Taylor, BBC Radio WM

"I sat with him yesterday at the hotel," said Gary O’Neil on Saturday afternoon, after watching his half-time substitute Tommy Doyle play a significant role in overturning a half-time deficit at Bournemouth. "We had a chat over a cup of tea about how impressed I’ve been with him, how he handles himself and how hard he works. And that it’s on me at the moment that he hasn’t played yet, it’s nothing that he’s doing."

Doyle was one of the players signed by Wolves in final hours of the summer window. A young midfielder with impeccable credentials at Manchester City, and notable contributions to Sheffield United’s promotion and England’s age group sides already on his record, he seemed a smart loan signing. Until Saturday, though, he had featured only fleetingly, aside from the League Cup defeat at Ipswich.

"I said to him, 'because of how hard you work, when your opportunity comes, you’re going to be ready, so there are benefits to keeping working'," O’Neil explained. "They’re tough, those moments when you’re not playing and you maybe can’t see your way in. And the manager then chooses the other midfielder ahead of you today when Mario [Lemina] was missing..."

I suggested to O’Neil that in his long playing career, at some time he must have been in a similar position to Doyle on Saturday morning, waiting for a chance, perhaps sensing he was slipping down the queue to play. "Of course. And it’s easy for me to stand here and say just keep going. But when you’re the guy that’s in there, you’re like ‘yeah, keep going, but when’s it coming?’ So I’m delighted for Tommy."

O’Neil may have won round quite a few Wolves fans recently with his tactical choices, leading to important results, and his TV tactics lesson on Monday night has been widely shared, further enhancing that profile.

But Doyle’s response to his manager’s reassurance, seizing his chance, and Matt Doherty’s insistence on playing despite a groin injury – "a miracle", said O’Neil – were the latest indications that the still newish Wolves boss and his players are building a strong connection. As in any workplace, personal dynamics matter just as much as strategy. The feeling that the management believe in you is a powerful motivating force.

Hear live commentary of Wolves v Newcastle on BBC Radio WM from 17:30 BST on Saturday