Wolves star Toti Gomes has revealed he had been training at left-back ahead of the game with Nottingham Forest.
Julen Lopetegui threw something of a curveball on Saturday.
Following Jonny Castro Otto’s red card against Leeds United, the expectation was that Rayan Ait-Nouri would come into the starting XI.
Hugo Bueno wasn’t quite ready to play from the start following a recent injury. And so the Algerian was surely the favourite to get the nod.
But when the teamsheet dropped at 2pm, Wolves fans saw that it was Toti who had been given the nod. Ait-Nouri was not even in the squad.
Toti is a centre-back by trade.
But the 24-year-old has revealed he has actually been training at left-back in preparation.
He said (Express & Star): “I played at left-back a couple years ago, so it was not my first time.
“I’ve been training at left-back and been doing what the coach asks me because I just want to help the team.”
Toti did well against Forest and drew praise from Lopetegui after the game. But he looked more comfortable when he moved inside after Craig Dawson was substituted off.
It remains to be seen if Toti will keep his starting berth against Chelsea.
Bueno did come on in the second-half against Forest. That would suggest he’ll be ready to come back into the side.
Toti Gomes’ desire to be a team player is admirable, as star reveals he trains as a left-back
It is little surprise to hear Toti has been trying to nail down a second position for Wolves.
Minutes have been hard to come by for him since he made his debut last year.
He’s looking to give himself the best chance to play, and also do a job for the team. And clearly, Lopetegui feels he can do a job on the left if needs be.
Toti deserves to play more minutes than he does for Wolves. It’s just a shame because Bueno is such a brilliant young talent, as is Ait-Nouri, although he is not in favour at the moment.