Gary O’Neil has tipped one Wolves youngster to finish the season strongly and expects him to shine before the campaign ends.
Gary O’Neil has seriously impressed since arriving at Molineux.
The success he’s brought to Wolves, despite limited resources, just shows how much of a good manager he is.
At the beginning of the campaign, Wanderers supporters anticipated a relegation scrap after watching their best players leave, but O’Neil has blown expectations out of the water by guiding them to an FA Cup quarter-final and leading them towards a European challenge.
Several players have seen improvements along the way, but his show of faith in the youth has been admirable.
O’Neil has given academy graduate Nathan Fraser his first-team debut and included 15-year-old Wesley Okoduwa in the matchday squad against Newcastle United.
That said, there is one youngster who would have expected to play more minutes than he has done and that is Hugo Bueno.
Gary O’Neil says Hugo Bueno still has a ‘big part’ to play at Wolves
Bueno truly announced himself onto the first-team scene at Wolves last term and was a regular fixture under previous manager Julen Lopetegui.
The Spaniard played 21 times in the Premier League while he has only started four times in the top flight since O’Neil took over.
A change to a three-at-the-back system with Rayan Ait-Nouri operating as a left wing-back hasn’t helped his cause as Bueno initially impressed as a left-back in a four-man defence.
While the sensational form of the Algerian has made it tough, injuries have made it even harder for him to break into the manager’s plans, but O’Neil believes he will still make his mark this season.
“It’s an unfortunate season for him so far,” O’Neil told the Express & Star. “When I first arrived he was doing really well. Him and Rayan were pushing really hard for the same spot and it was fairly fluid between who got the nod.
“Then he suffered the injury at Ipswich and missed a few games. Rayan did well and when he came back he’d have probably played in one of the cup games but had a sore calf. Sometimes things like that go against you enough that someone comes in and does well.
“He’s had to be really patient. He understands the situation and of course he’s frustrated, he wants to play more minutes.
“But I really value him. I’m really pleased to have him in the squad.
“As we’ve seen, things can change really quickly with injuries or form, and he’ll have a big part to play between now and the end of the season I’m sure.”
Hugo Bueno will get his chance
Wolves never envisaged going on a cup run, but they have a quarter-final tie against Coventry City to play in a week and that could see the Spaniard get his chance.
O’Neil could rest a few of his key first-team players, perhaps allowing Ait-Nouri to drop to the bench and that could open the door for Bueno.
Given how well the 22-year-old is playing this season, the pressure is on for the youngster to leave his mark but having ranked in the top 8% for progressive carries in the top flight last term, he’s more than capable of filling his boots.
Crucially, Wolves play three games in the space of seven days between March 30 and April 7.
Surely if O’Neil has hinted at playing a big part, he’s going to throw him into the starting XI for at least one of their fixtures against Aston Villa, Burnley or West Ham.