The fate of Wolves' season after Bruno Lage's sacking could hinge on Diego Costa's performances, according to reliable journalist Steve Madeley.

The Lowdown: Lage sacked as Wolves manager

Following Saturday's disappointing 2-0 defeat away to West Ham in the Premier League, the 46-year-old has been relieved of his duties as Old Gold manager.

In truth, it was a decision which seemed to have been coming for a number of weeks, with performances and results simply not good enough over an extended period, having won just one of his final 15 league games in charge.

A new manager hasn't yet been confirmed but the players may be rejuvenated under another boss, with Costa one of those hoping to fire this season after joining the club last month.

The Latest: Much depends on Costa

Taking to Twitter, Madeley claimed that the Spaniard's impact in attack, or potential lack thereof, could define Wolves' season, regardless of who the new manager is.

The Athletic reporter stated:

"I think much still hinges on Costa coming off, new manager or not."

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The Verdict: Is he still good enough?

Costa looked lively against West Ham as a substitute, taking one shot and completing 10 passes after coming off the bench, and it should be fascinating to see how he performs between now and the end of the campaign.

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With Raul Jimenez once again plagued by injury, the 33-year-old is likely to earn plenty of game-time in the Mexican's absence, and the hope is that he still has enough in the tank to be a hugely effective figure.

Costa might not be hitting the same levels that he notably reached at Chelsea in 2016/17, but if he can lead the line in his own inimitable way, scoring goals and being a nuisance, Wolves' new manager will benefit greatly.