Perhaps the only Aston Villa player to come out with any credit in their 2-0 defeat to Wolves was Donyell Malen. The January signing, on as a second-half substitute, was denied an equaliser following a controversial VAR call against Morgan Rogers.
Malen also forced two more good saves from the goalkeeper in a lively performance up front. Effectively replacing Jhon Duran, Villa's top scorer this season who has departed for Saudi Arabia, is a daunting task for anyone. But Malen is a different kind of player.
That is what Unai Emery wanted, having since bolstered his forward line with another winger-cum-striker in Marcus Rashford. Marco Asensio, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, provides more competition. But this is the fresh start that Malen was after.
Speaking to the Netherlands international at Villa's training ground, the softly spoken 26-year-old reflects on his early weeks at the club. "The training, the games," he tells Sky Sports. "I have been enjoying it." But why Aston Villa? "The plans of the club," he explains.
"It is a very big club in England, in the Premier League." Malen had a memorable taste of that watching on from the stands as Villa progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League against Celtic. "The stadium was full, it was rocking, so that was nice to see."
Malen did not know at the time of our interview that his Champions League role with Aston Villa for the rest of this season would be confined to this watching brief. He has not been registered due to Villa only being able to add three new names to their squad.
One can only speculate how he feels about the call, particularly given that, in this very conversation, he talks of unfinished business in the Champions League, having played in Borussia Dortmund's final defeat to Real Madrid in June. It is an awkward start to life at Villa.
But this signing has been made with more than just this season in mind. The hope is that after three-and-a-half years at Dortmund. His 39 goals for BVB, despite often coming off the bench and operating in wider areas, show that he can be effective.
Even so, there has always been a feeling of more to come with Malen. His final season in Eindhoven with PSV hinted at that when he scored 27 goals in all competitions. Since then, he has been a moments player, providing glimpses rather than unlocking it all.
The talent was identified early. Ajax were disappointed to lose him to Arsenal when he was a teenager. He smiles at those memories of England. "I was very young," he says. "I was only 16 when I came and trained with the first team. I was this skinny [kid]."
Malen was close to the breakthrough, featuring during pre-season. "Maybe I was not really 100 per cent ready," he acknowledges. "Looking back, I learned a lot in those two-and-a-half years there. But I made my steps in a different way. I played a lot of football."
A father now, he returns to England as a different person, a different player after over 300 career appearances. And yet, perhaps Emery can coax more from him. They just missed each other at Arsenal. "We didn't spend time together then but we can now."
Working with Emery was part of Malen's thinking. "He is very detailed and has ideas to really help me. He cares a lot. He is very supportive." Those famously long video sessions are just going to be part of his life now. "It is OK if it is about football. It is improving me."
Does Malen himself believe Emery is the person to help bring out his full potential as a player? "Yes, for sure. Especially the way he works with his forwards. All of the team, but with his forwards he is very detailed and very individual. I feel that can be a big help."
Speaking to Emery about this, he talks of Malen being used in a number of positions, principally as a right winger, as he was when coming on against West Ham, but also in a more central role, as was the case when being introduced for Ollie Watkins at Molineux.
What conversations has Malen had with Emery about how he sees his specific role in the team? "About positioning," he explains. "Where my strengths are and where I have to improve on weaknesses. A lot of these things we have already spoken about."
He appears relaxed about his best position, insisting he has no preference. "I have played all the positions by now at this stage, so for me it does not really matter. I just want to be close to the goal." It is a recurring theme. He wants to make the difference.
"I think I am very direct towards the goal, very direct against my opponents. I am running in behind, trying to create space for midfielders. I think that is my strength." Last season, he ranked among the top 10 players in the Bundesliga for goals per 90 minutes.
Is there more to come? Seven-and-a-half years after walking away from the Premier League to pursue progression elsewhere, we will soon find out whether he is ready to reignite it on his return. He knows it is not about promise now, it is about delivering.
"I think I am just looking forward to being here, improving and playing in the Premier League and showing myself here. That is a big goal for me. I just want to play and enjoy my football. What I have to do with that is score goals and be important for the team."
And his motivation? "That is just something that has been in me since I was very young. I have done a lot to be here. It was never anything that I did not want to do. I just woke up and I feel like this is what it is meant to be. I want to win prizes, to play big games."
The feeling is that Aston Villa is now a place where those things can happen. "You see the club going forward in the Champions League, top eight, which is a very big thing. We just have to keep looking forward." Where the best could be yet to come? "I really hope so."