Liam Keen comment: Wolves star unfairly snubbed for top award

For the most part that has been warranted in recent years, but this season has seen a tremendous turnaround that deserved recognition.

Vitor Pereira got that with his nomination for the Premier League's manager of the season award for 2024/25.

The Portuguese head coach took over a team sitting 19th in the table and masterminded 10 wins and two draws from 20 games, with two still left to play, to steer Wolves away from danger.

That included a six-game winning run that won Pereira the manager of the month award for April and Wolves could still finish as high as 13th in the table.

Pereira is unlikely to win the award as he goes up against Brentford's Thomas Frank, Newcastle's Eddie Howe, Arne Slot of champions Liverpool and former Wolves boss and current Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo, but he deserves to be on the shortlist nonetheless.

However, star forward Matheus Cunha has been snubbed for the player of the season award and it has left many scratching their heads.

There is stern competition, granted, but the Brazilian's impact on the Premier League and Wolves has been superb.

He has managed 15 goals and six assists in a team that has struggled near the bottom of the table for most of the season and his 15 goals has equalled the most from any Brazilian player in Premier League history, alongside Roberto Firmino in 2017/18 and Gabriel Martinelli in 2022/23.

Cunha has his shortcomings, has been suspended twice this season and splits opinion with some of his antics, but he is undoubtedly a talented player that has had a remarkable season. Arguably he is world class and earlier in the season many of his goals kept Wolves afloat while the rest of the squad sunk.

Looking at the eight players that have been shortlisted, Cunha must feel hard done by.

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are understandable nominees for their impact on title-winning Liverpool, as are Newcastle's Alexander Isak, Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo and Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood for the goals they have scored.

Having a third Liverpool player in Ryan Gravenberch seems overkill, despite his strong performances, especially considering he has not score a single goal all season and only managed four assists.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has also made it. He is a fabulous footballer, but with three goals and seven assists to his name in a Gunners side that has ultimately achieved nothing this season, it does not make a lot of sense.

Finally, former Wolves man Morgan Gibbs-White has made it for his starring displays for Forest.

Another excellent player who notched six goals and 10 assists - less than Cunha again - in a side that has had a brilliant season but have stuttered of late.

Arguments can be made for Cunha to replace any of these three players and perhaps the player's second suspension, at a time when Wolves began their winning run without him, has worked against his potential nomination.

Putting into context the season Wolves have had and the role Cunha has played in it, a nomination should have been forthcoming.