Former Wolves captain Sam Ricketts believes Julen Lopetegui will recall captain Ruben Neves this weekend for the game against Leicester City.
The midfielder has been unavailable for the last two games due to suspension.
Neves picked up a 10th yellow card of the season in the game against Nottingham Forest.
Many Wolves fans feared the games against Chelsea and Brentford with Neves unable to play.
But ultimately, he was not missed by Wanderers.
It transpired that Wolves put in two of their best performances of the season.
MORE WOLVES STORIES
In both games, Lopetegui used Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes in the middle, with Matheus Nunes playing from the right.
Wolves looked really good, and there was a nice balance to the team. Plenty of chances were created, and the general work-rate was excellent.
There is a debate happening right now among Wolves fans about what the team should be this weekend.
Neves is Wolves’ best player. But Wolves just put in two of their best displays without him.
It’s a conundrum for sure for Lopetegui. But Ricketts reckons he will recall the 26-year-old to his starting XI.
He said on the Wolves Weekly podcast: “He might want to lay down a little marker. If you’re in the team, and the team does well, you’ll play the next game. And I think that’s a good thing.
“But then equally you could say Neves is captain. He’s obviously a fantastic player. He comes straight back in. And I think he’ll bring him back in.
“I think his influence within the team in general, not just playing, but being captain and everything, means he’ll play.”
All eyes will be on Julen Lopetegui’s midfield selections for Wolves against Leicester
There is no doubt about it, when that teamsheet drops at 2pm on Saturday, everyone’s eyes will immediately move to the middle of the list where the midfielders are listed.
It will be very, very interesting to see what Lopetegui does.
He’s shown since coming to the club that he is not afraid to make big decisions.
Daniel Podence, Raul Jimenez and Rayan Ait-Nouri have all been left out of matchday squads for tactical reasons. So it’s possible Lopetegui would have no qualms about benching Neves.
It seems quite a lot of Wolves fans would like the manager to continue with a winning team.
Naming Neves as a substitute would probably be his boldest call to date, and we will see if Ricketts’ prediction rings true.