Benik Afobe: Wolves ignoring detractors

Nuno Espirito Santo's team face third placed Aston Villa tomorrow knowing a win will put them in a superb position ahead of the final run in.

The club's relationship with Jorge Mendes has come under the microscope again this week with clubs reportedly contacting the EFL to raise concerns over the agent's involvement.

Senior figures from Leeds and Villa have taken to social media to highlight the issue, with Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani launching a Twitter attack on Wolves, suggesting the Mendes link is 'not legal'.

However Afobe, who scored his first goal since returning to the club in Wednesday's 3-0 win at Elland Road, said they're not concerned by what's being said.

"The manager's been talking to us saying don't listen to what people are saying," he said.

"We're seen some stories about the agency and stuff but none of us believe in that. We're a strong unit.

"We haven't been listening to what people are saying. We can't be doing that bad – we're six points clear.

"And Wolves finished 15th last season. It shows how much the club has improved in 12 months.

"On the bench we celebrate more than the players on the pitch sometimes! It's a great squad, a family club and when you're winning and top of the league how can you not be happy.

"We believe in ourselves 100 per cent."

Afobe had gone five substitute appearances without netting following his return to Wolves on loan from Bournemouth.

He admitted he was overthinking things – and got back to his natural game on Wednesday.

"It's the best feeling," he said of his strike. "Whether it's your first goal or your 100th goal, it's the best feeling.

"As a forward you dream about scoring goals, especially when it's at a club that you love, on the telly and a goal that killed Leeds off.

"We were under the cosh a little bit, we saw with the Norwich game we were 2-0 up and ending up drawing.

"The goal was for the fans, for the manager for having faith in me and for myself and my team mates.

"I probably should have scored two or three goals already. I was thinking about it too much – I was getting into positions and thinking here it is, the first goal, and it didn't come.

"I thought to myself this week I've trained well and focused on doing things that come natural to me.

"When you're more natural with a lot of focus, it happens. The keeper came out and I didn't have to think twice. I finished it like the confident striker I am and I believed I was going to score on Wednesday, whether I was going to play five minutes or 90, I knew I was going to score.

"We're human at the end of the day. The best players in the world go through a few games where they don't score and start missing chances that you never think they'd miss.

"It's a relief to score my first goal but this is about the team."