Liam Keen comment: Shot-stoppers key to Wolves' leadership conundrum

Disciplinary issues from Jose Sa, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Matheus Cunha and Mario Lemina all hit the headlines, while the latter was stripped of the captaincy as a result.

The team had lost it's way, was lacking leadership and the errors on the pitch were compounded by the errors off it.

The club's hierarchy recognise that they got it wrong with the balance of the team, the culture in the dressing room and the overall environment and they are working to fix it.

Vitor Pereira and his staff have gone a long way to helping with that, as have the January signings, but some unsung heroes deserve credit.

Dan Bentley and Tom King rarely get opportunities on the pitch but are integral off it. The two goalkeepers, third and fourth choice respectively, are vital at driving standards and improving the culture in the group.

They cannot do it alone and need players who play regularly to be on board, as last season showed, but they continue to be important members of a wider group.

Pereira revealed in April that King gave a passionate team talk in the dressing room ahead of Wolves' win over Leicester - but the goalkeeper has admitted it was not a one-off.

"The manager made it quite public knowledge that he relies on me a little bit to rile the lads up and get the lads going before games, during training and after training," King said.

"I try to provide whatever I can as a service to the team and try and be the best team player I can.

"I've done quite a few (team talks), three or four now.

"He likes to throw it on me last minute, which gets the pulses raising a little bit.

"It almost does me a favour because it doesn't give me time to stew on it and try and make things up. It gives me a chance to just speak from the heart.

"We're not team-mates in there, we're like a band of brothers. You can see the emotion.

"The manager's words echo that we're a tight-knit squad and everybody wants to strive for more."

King was rewarded by Pereira with his Wolves and Premier League debut on the final day of the 2024/25 season, when he replaced Jose Sa as an 89th minute substitute.

That opportunity almost came under Gary O'Neil but never materialised and it was Pereira that was able to give the 30-year-old a moment he will never forget.

And it came after years of never getting close to playing a single minute, but continuing to bring the right energy to a team that needed guidance.

King added: "Tony Roberts was the goalie coach when I signed and he knows what I can do. He knew what I could bring.

"He's obviously seen me in the Wales set-up for a long time. He knew exactly what I could bring and I think he was able to convince Julen (Lopetegui) and Hobbsy (Matt Hobbs) what I was able to bring.

"I think it was after six or seven months I ended up signing a new contract, so I think I was able to prove to everyone what I'm able to bring to the party.

"There's obviously tough moments. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't tough moments. You just want to be out there helping the lads in any way, shape or form.

"You go day after day after day, training hard."

Bentley is exactly the same, although he has now played a handful of times and enjoyed a clean sheet win at Old Trafford last season after Sa was injured in the warm up.

He was wanted by Arsenal last summer but Wolves wanted to keep him - the player never threw his toys out of the pram.

Sam Johnstone is likely to leave this summer and it is understood Pereira is happy for Bentley to be number two, although Wolves are also keeping tabs on other goalkeepers as well.

What they must do is get the balance right among the squad and within the leadership group, to get the most out of what King and Bentley bring to the party.