Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Max Kilman has faded into the background of late.
The 23-year-old has not started a game now since the FA Cup defeat to Southampton on February 11.
The former Maidenhead United youngster has been afforded just one minute of action in the Premier League since his last start in the competition against Leicester City.
It all feels a little harsh on Kilman, who has arguably been Wolves’ best defender this season.
Realistically, he should have been a part of the backline in the absence of Willy Boly.
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But Nuno felt compelled to play Leander Dendoncker as a right-sided centre-half, with Romain Saiss operating on the left of Conor Coady.
Wolves have picked up eight points since Kilman last started in the league and that haul potentially justifies Nuno’s selections.
But Dendoncker has hardly been convincing in that role and arguably the midfield has missed him.
Kilman treatment harsh, and struggles could continue
It has definitely been harsh of Nuno to overlook Kilman in the period Boly was sidelined.
Now, the Ivorian is back fit again and will likely go straight back into the starting XI after making the bench against Manchester City and Aston Villa.
It is therefore likely that Kilman will struggle to become a regular starter again, with Romain Saiss firmly in favour having started the last six games in all competitions.
With Dion Sanderson shining bright at Sunderland and there being talk Wolves will go for a new central defender this summer (Tim Spiers, January 2020), bench-warming at this moment in time will be a real frustration for the player.