Interview: Vegan Danny Batth has an appetite for Wolves success
Danny Batth was on the wrong end of what could kindly be called a ‘meaty’ challenge on Tuesday night.
But it’s a meat-free diet that’s got the Wolves skipper stronger, leaner and quicker – and excited about the season ahead.
Batth was pole-axed in the penalty area by Bristol City’s Bailey Wright in a challenge that had Wolves screaming for a penalty.
It left the 26-year-old with a sore neck and voice box. But he recovered to net an equaliser with five minutes to go in a 3-3 thriller. And a new Vegan diet he adopted in the summer looks to be making a big difference for the Brierley Hill-born centre-half.
“I feel great,” Batth said of his new regime. "I’m recovering well, sleeping better, I’ve lost a few pounds although there wasn’t a great deal to lose.
“It came about from doing a bit of research, reading into it and seeing the benefits.
“A lot of athletes are using it to their advantage and I thought why not try it in pre-season. I felt good.
“It helps in terms of recovery, plus my speed’s up, my strength is up and my body fat is down.”
Batth has had to bide his time in the opening weeks of the season after finding himself on the bench for Wolves’ first five league fixtures.
An injury to Willy Boly offered him an opportunity he’s grasped with both hands.
“I’ve had to be patient but any player on the bench isn’t too far away from playing so you’ve got to always be on your toes,” he added.
“I’m always confident if I play I’ll do well. The squad is very strong, there are a lot of good players here, so if it’s not me there’ll be someone else out the team thinking they can get back in.
“That sort of competition is what makes a good, competitive squad.”
Batth’s header against the Robins was his fifth goal in his past 10 starts.
It also took his overall Wolves tally to 14. He’s now the highest-scoring player in the squad – two ahead of Helder Costa – after the departures of long-serving players David Edwards and Nouha Dicko.
“It’s a decent record but I’ve played a lot of games, I’ll be trying to score more but more importantly defend well and hopefully the team’s winning,” he said.
“I’ve been enjoying it, chipping in with a few goals is something I’m always keen to do.
“I’ve set targets in the past but this season I’ve not really done it because getting the next one is more important that trying to reach a number.
“It was an important one on Tuesday. I don’t think we should be in a place where we have to score three to draw at home but lessons will be learned.
“The support was brilliant on Tuesday and the performance was lively. Tuesday night games at Molineux can be tough but it was full of energy and it’s no coincidence there was a big crowd there.
“We’re only seven or eight games in so we’re still learning and trying to improve on the training ground.
“Things will be flagged up throughout the season that we need to work on – it’s how you react and respond to that.
"With the new playing style It's just day to day working on it, making sure you're listening to what the coaches are saying, watching other teams that play three at the back, learning that way.
"As a defender you’ve got a bit more cover as there’s a player in the middle who’s spare, so you can get a bit tighter and get out to people.
"Likewise on the ball you’ve probably got a few more options so it’s dynamic in that sense.
"It's a new challenge and one I'm really enjoying."
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team travelled to Nottingham Forest today hoping to make it seven wins from 10 matches in all competitions.
Batth says not getting ahead of themselves will be crucial to the team’s consistency as they look to engineer a promotion challenge.
“We’ve done all right over the past few games but I can’t tell you what’s going to happen over the next 30-odd," he added.
“We’ve done OK but we’re not unbeatable. We’ve got to make sure we keep improving and focus on the next game, I know it’s a cliché but that’s what it is in football, you have to do that otherwise you can slip up.
“When any team is winning the fans are going to want to shout from the rooftops.
“But likewise if we lose one or draw a game it’s about the players not getting too caught up in the moment and making progress day to day.”
