Bruno Lage's Chiquinho revelation explains Wolves snub at Newcastle

Bruno Lage has praised both January signing Chiquinho and academy protégé Chem Campbell - and admits it’s difficult to choose between them.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers boss overlooked Chiquinho during Friday night’s defeat to Newcastle United and handed Campbell his Premier League debut. It was the 19-year-old’s first senior outing since October 2019, when he became the second youngest player in Wolves’ history in a Carabao Cup tie at Aston Villa.

Campbell was part of Wolves’ first team team in pre-season and has featured in numerous squads this campaign, but he has often been left out by Lage. The arrival of Portuguese winger Chiquinho in January has limited Campbell’s involvement even further.

But, speaking before the trip to Newcastle, Lage heaped praise on Campbell - who has eight goals and five assists in 16 matches for Wolves’ promotion-chasing under-23 side this term. Campbell also netted the winning goal against Peterborough United on Sunday as Wolves’ second string progressed to the Premier League Cup semi-finals.

"I put Chiquinho and Chem at the same level,” Lage said. "Chem has worked a lot with us but when we have a space on the bench I prefer Chiquinho instead of Chem because Chiquinho can play as an attacking right-back.

"I put both kids in the same position and we don't drop Chem. He's having a fantastic season for the under-23s and is scoring goals. We believe a lot in him.

"Chiquinho, every time he has a chance, he shows things. He has five minutes but gives everything for the club, that's the character, personality and ambition that I like in young players. Every chance they have they take.

"After, he deserves more. We have a lot of players who deserve more and some that think they deserve more but