Wolves host Burnley at Molineux this Sunday and manager Nuno Espirito Santo has a tough decision to make: should Adama Traore or Matt Doherty start?
This dilemma wouldn’t have been entertained for a second last season, but the former’s run of good form makes things interesting.
Sean Dyche will park the bus and let Wolves have most of the ball, so the decision should come down to who will possess the biggest threat.
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Why Adama Traore should start against Burnley
Adama Traore should start for Wolves against Burnley even if Matt Doherty has fully recovered from his niggling knee injury (Birmingham Live). This is in-spite-of Traore having just run back-and-forth nonstop against Torino in Italy on Thursday.
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Doherty is fundamental to Wolves’ success thanks to being a reliable threat that can score and assist. However, it’s Traore who has shown the better form so far this season. And Nuno should keep that form going by keeping the rapid wolf off his leash.
Traore will never lack the confidence, but he needs frequent time on the pitch to get consistency. Rather than sprinting down the wing and whipping in aimless crosses, Traore has finally begun to develop a footballing brain.
Against FC Pyunik at Molineux and Torino in Italy, the speedy Spaniard racked up two assists by running into the box, looking up and passing the ball to a man in gold. These assists proves he’s finally starting to turn from a miniature Usain Bolt into a proper footballer. And he needs consistent minutes on the pitch to keep trying what has recently worked for him.
Aside from maintaining the 23-year-old’s good performances, a starting position for him would also benefit the rest of the pack.
Burnley will sit deep and defend nonstop, meaning there won’t be a lot of space on the pitch. Starting Traore would force some space in the final-third as Burnley’s defenders would need to double up on him. Not only that, but the Molineux faithful will need Traore on the pitch to raise their levels of excitement with his rapid dribbles.
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Because if the former Barcelona prodigy doesn’t start, then the contest could be a quiet affair thanks to being slow, lethargic and simply boring.