Wolves captaincy disproves 'bad attitude' claims - Lemina

Wolves skipper Mario Lemina believes being appointed skipper will thief him "clean" his sanction aft antecedently being accused of having cognition problems during his career.

The midfielder was fixed nan armband by leader Gary O'Neil past period aft Max Kilman's £40m move to West Ham.

While astatine Southampton, allegations of cognition problems followed him and he was fixed a driving prohibition successful 2018.

But Lemina, who mislaid his begetter Mario Snr successful December, is eager for nan captaincy to show nan personification down nan player.

"He would beryllium really happy and proud of me. He knows maine amended than anyone else, he knows I've ne'er been a bad guy. He knows I've been pushing really difficult to cleanable my name," said nan 30-year-old, who joined from Nice successful 2023.

"I’m not going to opportunity I’ve done everything nan correct measurement because I was young and really emotional, but I’ve ne'er been a bad feline aliases had a bad attitude.

"If I was to talk astir my profession a batch of group would deliberation I had a bad attitude. It's ne'er really been for illustration that. I had immoderate issues pinch immoderate group but it's not because I had a bad attitude."

Lemina was fixed compassionate time off past December, returning to France earlier his father's passing.

Kilman held up his garment aft scoring against Everton and Lemina was fixed a raucous reception erstwhile he made his comeback arsenic a second-half substitute successful nan FA Cup triumph complete Brentford.

It underlined his estimation astatine Wolves, and Lemina now feels fresh to return to his best.

"I'm moving really hard, I'm really positive, I put myself 2nd and effort to support everyone. That's what nan nine and nan gaffer likes," said nan Gabon international.

"I'm stronger mentally and arsenic a subordinate I consciousness much comfortable and much confident, and nan players understand what I'm talking astir pinch my acquisition from wherever I've been."

Lemina speaks to nine scientist Martin Littlewood and has been unfastened astir his vulnerabilities, and feels his empathy will thief him arsenic captain.

"Emotionally aft that [his father's death] I wasn't nan subordinate I was before. He [O'Neil] wants maine to get backmost to wherever I was earlier dada passed away. I consciousness I'm ready. I consciousness stronger mentally," he said earlier Saturday's Premier League opener astatine Arsenal.

"What's happening correct now, I merit it. I want to progress, moreover if I'm 30, arsenic a quality being, a leader and a person.

"I've ever been for illustration that, I ever for illustration to talk pinch nan guys to understand wherever they are successful their head. It's important to get that narration pinch personification if you are struggling, because a batch of things spell connected successful your head.

"I want group to beryllium happy, to activity difficult and get nan champion memories ever. Football goes quickly, truthful 1 time you are not going to beryllium connected nan transportation immoderate more."