Wolves are looking to boost their chances of securing Premier League survival and will be hopeful they have the squad depth to manage for the remainder of the season.
The Old Gold had a busy mid-season window. Wolves were the second-highest spenders in January, bringing in three players.
Emmanuel Agbadou joined from Stade Reims at the start of the year with Nasser Djija and Marshall Munetsi arriving on Deadline Day.
The club’s investment suggests Vitor Pereira wanted more in-depth quality, but the Wolves manager’s recent comments on one player suggest he is the bedrock of his preferred lineup.
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Joao Gomes first name on Vitor Pereira’s team sheet
Despite letting the side down by being needlessly sent off against Arsenal last month, Joao Gomes is arguably Pereira’s most important player.
The Brazilian was suspended for Wolves’ Midlands Derby win over Aston Villa but has returned for his side’s game against Liverpool.
Although Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who filled in for the suspended Joao Gomes, had one of his best games in a gold shirt against Villa, the Frenchman immediately returned to the bench for the trip to Anfield.
“Joao Gomes was out against Villa. I played Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. He played very well, but now we have decided to start with Joao,” Pereira told reporters before kick off, quoted by BBC Sport.
The 56-year-old’s comments prove Joao Gomes is the side’s first choice midfielder.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde unlucky to miss out
Putting in an excellent performance last time out, Bellegarde might have been expecting to keep his place for Sunday’s matchup.
Unfortunately, the French midfielder narrowly missed out and he will consider himself unlucky.
Ultimately, Pereira’s comments confirm Joao Gomes and Andre are ahead in the pecking order, and with Munetsi recently signing, Bellegarde might question what kind of role he is expected to play at Molineux.
Since joining the Old Gold from Strasbourg in 2023, Bellegarde, who has three-and-a-half years left on his contract, has directly contributed to seven goals in 51 games in all competitions.