Wolves defender Roderick Miranda feeling fresh despite frenetic start

Including tomorrow's trip to Nottingham Forest, there are five matches to squeeze into the second half of September – before the second international break of the season provides a two-week rest.

By that point, Wolves would have played 14 games this season – six more than Miranda's former club Rio Ave during the same period in the less frenetic Portuguese schedule.

“It is still early in the season and, for now, I am OK," said the 26-year-old defender, who has started all seven of Wolves' league fixtures this season. "I don’t know how the body will respond in one or two more months.

“After the first few weeks and the first few games I feel good, not too tired.

“At Wolves everybody tries to recover the players 100 per cent, we have a lot of people around the club helping us and that makes it easier to recover."

It has also helped that Miranda has taken to British football – the style, the surroundings, the support and the standard of the Championship.

And Wolves' thrilling 3-3 draw with Bristol City on Tuesday night was the latest example of that for the Portuguese centre-back.

He said: “I must confess, I’m very impressed because everything is very good; players, teams, stadiums.

“All together, it’s a very good atmosphere, it’s a very good show for the people than come and watch us.

“The last game is proof of that with a 3-3 draw. A lot of goals, a lot of emotion – everybody likes a game like that.

“For the fans it must have been great to watch but, for us, I think we must improve.

“I am very happy to be here. I’ve tried to adapt very quickly to the British culture and British football as well as doing my best to help the team."

Next up for Wolves is one of the clubs who have made such a huge impression on the European game.

Under the guidance of legendary boss Brian Clough, Forest won the European Cup in back-to-back seasons in 1979 and 1980.

And though the side of today is a far cry from the team that conquered the continent, Miranda knows Wolves must be on their game against a side who are just two points and four places behind them in the early standings, having won four and lost three of their opening seven matches.

“They’re a great team and it’s one more game where we have to be at our best to compete," he said. “We have to try and play our game, try to impose our football, just like we do in every game.

“We will do our best, try to win and hopefully can give our fans the joy of three points."