Wolves have to dust themselves down after the weekend defeat to Newcastle United, with Brighton next up in the Carabao Cup.
Wanderers have had a tough start in the Premier League so far, losing three of their first four games.
Gary O’Neil‘s side were unlucky against Newcastle, conceding two long-range efforts to Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes.
But it’s back to the Carabao Cup for Wolves on Wednesday night and it’s a chance to respond.
O’Neil said after the game with Newcastle that there will be wholesale changes for this contest, with several players carrying knocks at the moment.
But the manager had already given the name of one player who will be starting.
Santi Bueno ‘certain’ to start for Wolves against Brighton
Wolves did a decent job defensively on Sunday against Newcastle.
Craig Dawson coming back into the backline has had a positive effect, and he looks like he will be a good mentor for Yerson Mosquera.
But neither of those players will be available for the game against Brighton according to O’Neil, and Toti Gomes has also picked up a small hamstring injury.
So that means there will be a start for Santi Bueno at the Amex. O’Neil said (via Wolves official): “For certain, Santi will start. I’m going to have to name a team and somebody’s going have to play at centre-back – so Santi will play at Brighton on Wednesday.”
Bueno featured for Wolves in the last round against Burnley, and put in a strong display alongside Dawson.
That remains the Uruguay international’s only appearance so far this term.
Big chance for Bueno
So Bueno will be featuring from the start against Brighton and it’s a big chance for him against a great team.
Bueno was pretty much faultless against Burnley, but Brighton will be a much bigger test. There is also potential for him to be the experienced defender, alongside a youngster given the quick turnaround and fitness issues.
So he will need to take more responsibility.
There is a player there with Bueno. But we perhaps just haven’t been able to see the best of him since he signed due to the competition.
Dawson will surely need rotating fairly regularly this season due to his age, so it’s important for Bueno to be ready to go. Because we have already seen that the Toti and Mosquera pairing needs a lot of work.