Academy watch: Luke Cundle

A look at one of the latest Wolves youngsters to come through the academy

Name: Luke Cundle

Luke Cundle

Position: Midfield

DOB: 26 April 2002 (18 years old)

Competitive first team appearances: 1

“Luke’s been having a really good season for the under-23s where he has been very consistent in all aspects of his play and performances.

“We’ve been really pleased with his progression, the way he’s developing physically and how he’s beginning to really understand the needs of a professional footballer.” (Scott Sellars, January 2021)

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Young midfielder Luke Cundle was given a new contract in January, tying him down to the club until 2023 (with the option of an extra year).

Cundle first caught my eye in the Premier League Asia Trophy pre-season tournament in 2019. Only 17 at the time, he appeared in both fixtures against Newcastle United and Manchester City as a substitute. The diminutive midfielder looked technically neat and prepared to work hard defensively, but the fact Nuno picked him to go with the first team squad for that trip suggested he saw some potential in him.

He’s been a regular for the U23s for a couple of years now and last season he came off the bench in the EFL cup game against Reading, getting a small taste of senior football. He has also benefitted from playing in the EFL trophy for the U23s this season.

I thought it would be worth looking at clips from those games in the EFL trophy this season to look at aspects of his games, where he excels and where he may need to improve.

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Attacking

In the three EFL trophy games, Cundle completed 189 out of 210 passes, a 90% completion rate. To compare to the current first choice midfielders, Rúben Neves has a 83.8% completion rate whereas João Moutinho has completed 84.8% of his passes. Of course, it is important to note the difference in sample size, but also the difference in levels those two are playing at compared to Cundle at present.

Often playing as the deepest midfielder for Wolves, he is often the player receiving the ball from the defenders in order to build attacks.

Cundle retains possession

These clips sum up his passing in the three games. Safe with possession, especially if there is a bit of pressure arriving from the side or behind him. In more recent Premier League 2 fixtures for the U23s, I would say his passing has started becoming more progressive, breaking lines centrally into more advanced midfielders or forward players. Below is an example of where he might be able to improve in this aspect.

Cundle hesitates and loses possession

As the passing lane to Taylor Perry opens up, Cundle hesitates just for a moment. This allows the Doncaster left back to recover into his position, and the pass becomes more predictable as the Doncaster midfielder intercepts the pass.

This pass against Doncaster Rovers demonstrates that he may have a better range of passing than he generally showed.

Cundle switches the play

In this example, he is able to receive in more space. This allows him to take a touch out of his feet, and play a longer pass to find Fernando Marçal in a promising wide position in the final third. When Wolves play with wing-backs, this is exactly the type of pass Rúben Neves will attempt.

Although he did not offer a great deal in a creative sense, he did manage three shots across those games.

Cundle EFL trophy shots

While his shot in the box was off target, he did force the keeper into a block or save from his two efforts from outside the area. More recently, he did score a tidy finish against Leeds United in the Premier League 2.

Cundle scores against Leeds

Cundle has good technical quality, which when given time and space he demonstrates well. This is not something you will always be afford in the senior game however, so the challenge for him in possession is to a) be comfortable playing under pressure and b) find ways to give himself more time and space on the ball.

Defending

Although small in stature, Cundle embraces the physical challenge in midfield. He is a hard-worker and persistent in his defensive work, harrying opponents.

Cundle has good work rate out of possession

However, from the games in the EFL trophy, there are times when he can do better to prevent forward passes.

Opposition are able to play forwards past Cundle

As a more defensive-minded midfielder, this is an area he will need to improve in. This example sums it up well.

As the Doncaster player receives the ball, neither of Cundle and Meritan Shabani are in position to prevent the forward pass. They have left too much space between them, and are in a straight line defending the opponent.

Cundle and Shabani are caught too ‘square’

This encourages the Doncaster player to pass forwards, as an attacking player moves behind the two midfielders, running in from Shabani’s ‘blind-side’ to receive the ball and run forwards.

Doncaster attacks receives behind Wolves’ midfield

In this game, Cundle played as the deepest of a midfield three alongside Shabani and Taylor Perry. One of his key tasks in the game will have been to prevent these types of passes happening. Later in the same game, he did manage to show that he has the quality to sense danger, intercepting a forward pass by a Doncaster defender.

Cundle intercepts a forward pass

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Summary

As a first year professional, Cundle has plenty of time to still develop into a good midfielder. Although Nuno has included him in a couple of squads and given him some minutes in the EFL Cup, he is likely some way off of a permanent place in the first team squad.

That is no slight on him, as Wolves continue to strive to consistently be in European competition. Like many others before him, he may be forced to go on loan to experience senior football and eventually, depart permanently.

Elliot Watt may be a good example for him to follow. Watt was a consistently good performer for the U23s for a couple of years, played in the EFL Cup too and is now performing well for Bradford City in League 2. He is a player you would expect to see get a chance at a higher level sooner rather than later. Cundle certainly has the ability to follow a similar path at the very least.