Wolves will look to bounce back tonight against Burnley and get their challenge for European football back on track.
Wanderers fell to a 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa on Saturday night. It was always going to be a hard game due to key players missing out through injury.
Wolves did pass up a couple of good chances in the game, with one especially gilt-edged one from Rayan Ait-Nouri. Had the team been more clinical, Wolves could have come away with something.
But the cutting edge just wasn’t there, and Gary O’Neil will hope that’s not the case tonight at Turf Moor.
Wolves take on Burnley who currently sit in 19th place in the table – and it is a great chance to get back on track.
Here’s an XI O’Neil could go with tonight…
Predicted Wolves XI to face Burnley – Hugo Bueno starts, Nathan Fraser returns
Jose Sa will continue in goal for Wolves and there may not be any changes to the back three.
Craig Dawson has been struggling with a groin injury recently and has missed the last three games. He has a chance to play, but he could be lacking match sharpness, so Max Kilman, Santiago Bueno and Toti Gomes could continue as the back three.
Nelson Semedo should carry on at right wing-back, and it may be that Hugo Bueno comes in on the left. Bueno has not seen too much game time this season, but he may be required tonight for a bit of a reshuffle. It would be only the fifth start in the Premier League this term for the ‘excellent’ 21-year-old.
The midfield will be interesting.
It may well be that the manager decides to go with Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina, who have so often been brilliant together as a two.
Tommy Doyle accompanied them in the last game against Villa. Although he did play well, he might be sacrificed tonight. Purely because it would get Lemina back into the middle where he is so effective.
Rayan Ait-Nouri might play as a left winger, which is something Molineux legend Andy Thompson wants to see.
On the right will surely be Pablo Sarabia, who could be the key to unlocking a stubborn Clarets defence tonight.
Through the middle, it would be a surprise if Matheus Cunha – who will be in the squad – started. Wolves fans will hope he does. But the manager may look to throw him on in the second-half to try and take advantage of tired legs.
So it could be a toss-up between Nathan Fraser and Leon Chiwome.
Chiwome worked hard against Villa but didn’t have too much influence and so, Fraser – who does have a couple of goals for the first-team – might just about get the nod.
Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-chan and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde remain unavailable.
Wolves (3-4-3): Sa/S.Bueno, Kilman, Toti/Semedo, J.Gomes, Lemina, H.Bueno/Sarabia, Fraser, Ait-Nouri.