"He was maybe the best midfielder in Brazil" - high praise for Wolves star

The summer signing, who arrived in a £21million move from Brazilian side Fluminense, has found his best form under Pereira of late and topped it off with an impressive battling display against Everton last weekend.

The 23-year-old has gained plenty of plaudits for his improving displays in the middle of the park and Pereira - who faced Andre when he was manager of Brazilian sides Corinthians and Flamengo - says the midfielder is now getting back to his best.

"I know Andre from Fluminense, I played a few times against him," Pereira said.

"At Fluminense, he was maybe the best midfielder in Brazil, at that time.

"The physicality of the Premier League demands a lot of adaptation and I believe that Andre will increase his level year after year, season after season because he knows how to play with the ball.

"For me, he's better when he's alone in the number six position because he knows how to move in the free spaces.

"If he has someone beside him, it's more difficult for him, and this is what I'm realising now.

"Andre is a player that is improving on how to use his body in the duels.

"He's a better player now because with the ball he has the quality I saw at Fluminense and now defensively he understands the spaces with and without the ball.

"He understands where to be to stop the counter-attack."

Andre arrived right at the end of the summer transfer window and took some time to settle into his new surroundings.

The departure of Mario Lemina has helped Andre cement his place in the starting XI and he has forged an excellent partnership with Joao Gomes, resulting in him retaining his place in the Brazil national team.

Pereira now believes Andre has been able to adapt to the Premier League, comparing him to the journey of Newcastle's Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali.

"The game in Brazil is different and the style of Fluminense was a passing game, attacking," he added.

"Andre, in his last years before he came, he played this football almost all the time with the ball.

"Wolverhampton is not a team to play like Fluminense, he needs to defend more.

"Now, he's increasing his level as a number six with and without the ball and when defending.

"I don't like to compare players but (Sandro) Tonali at Newcastle, I know him from Italy and he's not used to doing what he does here.

"Now he's a six who can cover a lot of space, recovering balls, and this is the adaptation he did.

"Andre is doing that in our team."