Wolves’ starting XI against Celtic was unchanged from the game against FC Porto – and one wonders if Joao Gomes has fallen down the pecking order.
Wanderers played out a 1-1 draw at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin with the Scottish giants.
Kyogo Furuhashi gave Celtic and early lead, and Celtic could probably have gone in at the break with a bigger lead.
Wolves were able to get back on level terms though towards the end of the game.
Matt Doherty’s surge into the box drew a foul from Joe Hart, and Matheus Cunha made no mistake with the penalty. And it was good play from Fabio Silva to slip the Republic of Ireland international through.
Wolves starting XI was very interesting.
It was strong again, and unchanged from the Porto game, suggesting that that will be the team to face Manchester United in the first Premier League game on August 14.
Joao Gomes may have work to do to impress Julen Lopetegui
One of the things that raised the most eyebrows yesterday with Lopetegui’s team selection was the inclusion of young Joe Hodge again.
Hodge got 90 minutes against Porto playing midfield.
And he got 90 minutes again against Celtic, which is interesting considering most expect Joao Gomes to become a regular pick now that Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho have gone.
Gomes – described as ‘certainly combative’ by South American football expert Tim Vickery – only got a cameo against Porto. And he was an unused substitute against Celtic.
He did feature in the behind-closed-doors friendly against the Manchester City academy. That team was mainly made up of fringe players and youngsters.
Lopetegui’s inclusion of Hodge and not Gomes is very interesting and one does wonder if the Spaniard rates him a bit higher than Gomes at the moment.
Hodge is a player Lopetegui has liked since he first stepped through the door at Wolves.
You get the feeling that Lopetegui would have played him more in the second half of last season had Wolves’ Premier League status not been under genuine threat.
Gomes barely featuring in the games with Porto and Celtic is not something many will have seem coming.
He looked fantastic alongside Mario Lemina in those matches against Chelsea and Brentford when Neves was suspended.
But seemingly right now, it is not a gimme that he will begin the new season as a starter.
Wolves haven’t said anything about an injury, so presumably he just isn’t quite doing as much as Hodge right now.
Wolves have games coming up against Rennes and Luton Town, so he will certainly be hoping for more of a chance.