Toti Gomes makes intriguing claim about recently being dropped at Wolves

Toti Gomes losing his place at Wolves has been something of a surprise.

The defender was a regular pick last season for Vitor Pereira, and showed real consistency alongside the likes of Emmanuel Agbadou and Matt Doherty.

But this season, Toti Gomes has now slipped down the pecking order.

Despite becoming club captain just a few months ago, the Portuguese now finds himself on the bench and struggling to start, after Pereira changed the system.

He and Agbadou were both dropped for their poor form, with Pereira deploying Ladislav Krejci and Santiago Bueno as a pairing.

And so far, they have looked really solid together, meaning Toti now has work to do to reclaim his place.

And the 26-year-old has spoken out after getting dropped.

Captain Toti Gomes says he’s not had conversations with Vitor Pereira about Wolves axe

Few would have anticipated neither Toti nor Agbadou being in Wolves starting XI after seven Premier League games.

They were both so good in the second half of last season. But the drop-off has been rather alarming.

Toti – who missed the Brighton game through illness – has now reacted to his recent axeing from the team, sharing that he and Pereira have not actually spoken about the decision, but that he accepts it regardless.

He said (via Wolves official): “Sometimes you’re going to have to change when things are not going well, and the gaffer needs to do his decisions, but everybody’s ready. We have a very good squad, and we just need to keep working hard and everyone needs to come back from the international break ready to help.

“We’ve not had conversations about [his place in the team], but he just felt that he needed to change a little bit at the time, and we, as players, just need to respect that. I can’t say much about it. All I can do is just keep working hard so I can come back to the starting level.

“I just need to keep staying fit, and when the opportunity comes again, I need to go there and show it.”

Give he is the captain, it is perhaps a little peculiar that he and Pereira have not have conversations about his removal from the starting XI. Seemingly though, there is an acceptance on both sides that it needed to happen for the moment.

• READ MORE: Who is Toti Gomes? Meet Wolves’ left-sided lieutenant

Top pro Toti

This is how you respond to being dropped, and one would expect nothing less from Toti.

The defender has always been very humble and low maintenance, and while this setback will be no doubt frustrating, he will surely take it in his stride.

Toti has previously talked up the need for competition at Wolves, even if it’s in his own position. And he’s reiterated that stance in this new interview.

It is good to hear that even though he is the club captain, he does not feel he has a right to be playing, and must earn his place on merit just like everyone else.

Hopefully, he can pick up his form and push Krejci and Bueno – ultimately, the best thing for Pereira is that he has as many selection headaches as possible.