Wolves' top pre-season performers

While matters off the field sometimes haven't gone so swimmingly, with the Kevin McDonald contract saga casting a shadow over Wolves' preparations, things couldn't have gone much better during the six games the team played.

Four victories and two draws meant Wolves were unbeaten and, at times, they played some excellent football, culminating in two hugely entertaining games against Villa and Doncaster.

But which players stood out during the pre-season campaign?

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers picks out those who impressed the most in the battle for a first-team place.

Conor Coady

It's been a while since they had a genuine ball-winning midfielder to harass and harry the opposition – but Coady has looked the real deal.

Full of energy and positivity, the 22-year-old was man of the match against Villa, when he at one point launched an attack with successive ball-winning tackles.

But his game is about more than tackling – Coady has generally sat deep but gets his head up whenever the ball is at his feet and looks for a killer pass.

He'll be a crowd-pleaser.

Bright Enobakhare

Featured for just 140 minutes of the 540 that Wolves played in their six matches.

Enobakhare - and no it's still not clear how exactly you pronounce his name – caught the eye in the opener against FC Chambly, scoring a delightful late winner, controlling a cross and taking the ball away from the defender with one right-foot touch, before dinking over the keeper with his left.

Enobakhare was given just 26 and 24 minutes against Paris FC and Burton, before missing out the Shrewsbury and Villa games.

But he returned to bookend pre-season perfectly with a stunning winner against Doncaster, taking on three players and coolly beating the keeper.

Aside from the goals the 17-year-old – whose frame makes him look anything but a teenager – has been direct, powerful and quick.

And he's impressed enough to probably earn a senior debut in the coming weeks.

Benik Afobe

Afobe's summer break was curtailed by a late call-up to the England Under-21 squad but he certainly hasn't shown any after-effects in what has been an impressive warm-up for the new season.

Afobe scored against FC Chambly, Villa and Doncaster. But, often playing in a deeper role behind Nouha Dicko, his sumptuous link-up play made him stand out even more.

At times he would appear in defensive midfield to pick up the ball and start another Wolves attack before haring towards the box.

He played delightful one-twos, created chances for Dicko and showed vision and intelligence in front of the opposition back four.

And despite playing deeper he still managed to finish as Wolves' top pre-season scorer.

Afobe looks like he's about to start 2015/16 in the same rich vein of form he was in throughout 2014/15.

Connor Ronan

A surprise choice in the Clairefontaine squad of 23, Ronan immediately settled into training, showing poise and skill when taking on his experienced team mates on the first day of training in France.

Ronan was given 45 minutes against FC Chambly and was comfortable on the ball and pacey on the break.

Then against Paris FC he produced one of the moments of pre-season, pirouetting past two players in a Zidane-esque moment of skill that had the Wolves fans on their feet.

Against Doncaster Ronan was a delight to watch, threading some gorgeous passes through the home back line.

Will need to bulk up before Kenny Jackett considers him ahead of others, but Ronan certainly has the attributes to break through into the Wolves first team in the not-too-distant future.

Scott Golbourne

And while Golbourne's pre-season form cannot be said to have set the world alight, his return to fitness cannot be underestimated.

With Hause now in his natural position at centre half - and seemingly set to partner Richard Stearman at Blackburn on Saturday having edged ahead of Ethan Ebanks-Landell in the pecking order - Golbourne has been free to exert his left-back authority once more.

Some steady performances have done that and against Burton in particular he also ventured forward to good effect, overlapping Tommy Rowe.

He even staked a claim to be Wolves' new corner kick specialist in place of the departed Bakary Sako, with Wolves scoring two goals from his inswingers against Doncaster.