Gary O’Neil has a squad that is packed with quality at Wolves.
Wanderers may be bottom of the Premier League table right now, having taken just one point, but the squad have many talented players and youngsters with the potential to be worth millions.
It’s been a difficult start so far this season.
But the fixtures have been very tough, and Wolves still shown positive signs in games.
One of the most settled parts of the team at the moment is the midfield, with Andre, Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes having started the last three Premier League games together.
That has meant Tommy Doyle has had to be content with a place on the bench, but the former Manchester City man believes he should be in the starting XI.
‘Valuable’ Tommy Doyle wants to be a regular starter for Wolves
Doyle signed for Wolves permanently in the summer after a successful loan spell last term.
Wolves paid City just under £5 million, which was seen as fantastic business by the club. Although, it is thought there is a 50% sell-on clause for City, which is less than ideal for Wolves.
Doyle has struggled to start games so far this season, with O’Neil once again leaning on Lemina and Gomes.
The club then signed Brazilian midfielder Andre on deadline day, and he has gone straight into the midfield with the other two.
Doyle is in an unlucky situation at Molineux, and it seems as though he is going to have to be patient for a run of starts.
O’Neil has been speaking about the English maestro, and admits the player himself does feel as though he should be starting.
He said (via E&S): “He will be important and he is an ambitious lad who thinks he should be starting every week. Tommy understands his role at this moment is not that but he has the quality and potential to be that.
“Tommy is fighting hard to push the other three. He’s good, he has big quality and is a good lad who works hard.”
O’Neil went on to describe Doyle as ‘a valuable member of the group’.
That has been clear, with O’Neil handing Doyle the captaincy for the Carabao Cup game against Brighton last month.
Doyle deserves more minutes
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Doyle thinking he should be playing is not arrogance – it shows confidence and a strong mentality.
He backs himself and arguably, he should indeed be getting more minutes than he currently is.
He is in a really unfortunate spot, because the midfield is potentially the strongest part of Wolves’ team and Lemina and Gomes have been so good together for a while now.
The club signing Andre does not help his cause either.
But Doyle is the type to take the challenge in his stride.
There is every chance, given the fact Lemina, Gomes and Andre are all quite combative, that one of them will pick up an injury at some point, which will open the door for Doyle.