Morgan Gibbs-White: Wolves will ignore hype

Nuno Espirito Santo’s team are being backed by pundits and the bookies to comfortably avoid relegation.

They’re even seventh-favourites with some to win the Premier League.

But there’s no big talk coming from the Wolves camp, with Stafford-born youngster Gibbs-White saying they’ll be taking the same ‘game by game’ approach which proved so successful when winning the Championship last season.

“The players are aware (of expectations) but it’s not bothering us because we’re not letting things go to our heads,” he said.

“We’ll concentrate on the season and do what we can.

“The expectations are high but we can only do the best we can do.

“(As a team) we’ve not really talked about targets. I think we’ll just go with the flow and improve game by game.

“I haven’t really set personal targets yet, I’ve been concentrating on pre-season, working hard and trying to prove to the manager I should be in the team.”

Wolves face La Liga side Villarreal at Molineux on Saturday in their final pre-season friendly.

“The boys are coming together now, we’re ready more than ever,” the 18-year-old midfielder added.

“Pre-season has gone really well. Everyone’s looking fit and sharp, ready for Everton.

“We had little bumps at the start of pre-season with getting players in and out but we’re good and ready to go.

“We’re massively excited, Saturday is our first pre-season game at home so all the fans get to come and watch.

“It’ll be a good experience playing against a foreign team and getting used to the style they play.

“(Nuno) wasn’t too bothered about a victory or a loss (at Derby), he wanted us to concentrate on how we play, the shape when we’re defending and things like that.”

Gibbs-White is expected to be involved in the first team squad this season.

He added: “I’ve been around for about six months now, I’ve definitely settled in and the boys have welcomed me.

“It’s a massive learning curve – every day is a learning curve when you’re playing football.

“With the likes of Joao (Moutinho) coming, he’s won the Euros with Portugal, so it’s good to have him in the dressing room. It’s only going to make me a better player.”