Talented technician who stars in the pocket

LUKE Cundle spent his formative years at Wolves watching Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves strut their stuff.

- Chris Dunlavy

The Portuguese internationals provided inspiration and plenty of advice, but also presented an impassable barrier to the first team.

Cundle made just four Premier League appearances for Wolves, all of them in the 2021-22 campaign, and after loan spells at Swansea, Plymouth and Stoke, the 22-yearold has now joined Millwall on a permanent deal.

“I want to work hard and I want to bring goals and creativity,” he said upon completion of his £1m transfer last month - and it didn’t take him long to produce.

Cundle scored what proved to be the winner just 25 minutes into his debut against QPR, and was again instrumental in last weekend’s shock 2-0 win over Leeds in the FA Cup.

“Luke’s been terrific,” said Lions boss Alex Neil, who fought off competition from the likes of Swansea and Bristol City to land the Warrington-born midfielder. “He’s barely trained with us but good players can play anywhere.”

And play anywhere he certainly has. Fittingly for a player who idolised Moutinho, Cundle began his career as a central midfielder and it was there that he made his early appearances for Wolves under Bruno Lage.