Roberto De Zerbi put Deniz Undav in his starting XI and told him he expected a hat-trick.

It did not quite happen. He ‘only’ got two in the 6-0 win over Wolves – just like Danny Welbeck and Pascal Gross.

But Undav may well have gone home on Saturday evening with something more valuable than a signed matchball.

It looked very much like he had gained the self-belief the head coach believes he has been lacking.

It has been a testing season for Undav after his free-scoring 2021-22 in Belgium.

Perhaps that is why it felt like he did want to get his hopes up when he turned home Welbeck’s flick to open the scoring.

He didn't celebrate. Instead, he looked at the assistant referee, wary perhaps of the sort of offside call which denied him at Nottingham Forest in midweek.

But, once VAR eventually confirmed the goal, the smile came and so did the release.

His second goal - and Albion’s sixth - was an outrageous chip after Kaoru Mitoma had helped him win the ball back.

And this time he really celebrated in front of the North Stand.

Asked whether that finish showed Undav had gained in belief, De Zerbi replied: “No, the second goal showed incredible quality.

“Before the game I told him he would score three goals and he scored only two.

"I wanted to show how much confidence I have in Deniz.

“The problem is not the quality and I am honest. I am clear with you because he knows very well my idea.

“If I am speaking like this it is to help him and to help myself.

“We can play with Welbeck, with Julio, with Ferguson, with another striker or No.10, but who loses out is Undav.”

We have heard for years that Albion need a natural goalscorer and the expectation was Undav would fit that bill as he shone at Union St-Gilloise.

But De Zerbi said there is more to him than that.

He said: “He is one of my biggest problems in Brighton and I want to explain why.

“He has big potential, he has big quality but it seems like he doesn’t believe in himself.

“I would like to help him believe more in himself because he has quality.

“He has everything to be a player in the first XI.

“But football can wait for no one. He has to understand fast because time in football flies.

“Undav is unique in our squad. He scores like a No.9 and he has the quality to play like a No.10, like Julio, like Welbeck.

"But Undav is different to Welbeck and Enciso.”

Not that it was all about all about Undav, although his finish from Welbeck’s touch certainly opened the floodgates.

Gross needed just a couple of games to settle into the Prem back in 2017 and he produced two super finishes to show he is as good as, if not better than, ever.

Julio Enciso was a massive threat down the left in the first half, involved in the first four goals and terrifying a Wolves right side who might initially have been relieved to see Mitoma was only on the bench.

And Welbeck’s double strike rewarded an intelligent display in which he dropped deep and linked play.

But it was Billy Gilmour who shone brightest as far as De Zerbi was concerned.

His passing, movement and control made sure a chance to impress was duly seized and he almost added a goal late on when his low shot kissed the outside of the post.

Brilliant individual performances – but the collective was even better than the sum of its parts.

The fact the previous week had been so trying made it all the better.

Wolves were torn to shreds and fans lapped it up.

Gross’s goals both came after passes from Enciso, as he swept in left-footed and flicked up and volleyed home with his right.

Welbeck headed in at the far post after a cross from the ever-lively Pervis Estupinan to round things off for the first half.

He opened the second with a precise finish into the bottom corner and Undav went on to add his party piece.