Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O’Neil says the summer signing of Sam Johnstone has sparked an improvement in fellow goalkeeper Jose Sa.
O’Neil claims the arrival of England international Johnstone “sparked something” in Sa, who returned to the team with an impressive display against Manchester City last weekend.
Johnstone is back in training after missing the City game through injury but O’Neil will make a late decision on whether the former Crystal Palace man is ready to return to the squad to face Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.
And Sa is favourite to keep his place in the starting XI after his return to form last weekend in Wolves’ 2-1 defeat.
“When we brought Sam in, I spoke about the fight for that position,” said O’Neil. “It is the same as Tommy Doyle, Andre, Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes fighting for their position.
“The goalkeeper position is the same now. Of course Dan Bentley was always pushing Jose but I think the arrival of Sam definitely sparked something in Jose.
“I saw a difference in training. I saw a difference in his level of work.
“And there’s no way that he could have performed the way he did at the weekend without working really hard for the last four or five weeks and staying focused.
“He’s done that so I’m really pleased for him because it was a big performance that he put in last weekend.”
O’Neil now faces a difficult decision on who to make his No 1 for the remainder of the season, but he insists it did not give him a headache this week.
“Sam’s trained quite a bit this week so we’ll see how he is, but he’s come through training so we’ll make a call tomorrow.
“I’m really clear on who’s the best goalkeeper to start fresh tomorrow.”
Wolves are bottom of the table, below Southampton on goal difference, having taken one point from their opening eight games.
(David Rogers/Getty Images)
