So many Wolves players have thrived this season under Gary O’Neil – but one man who has yet to really get going under the head coach is Boubacar Traore.
Wanderers put another big three points on the board at the weekend by beating Fulham 2-1, but there were no minutes once again for Traore.
Wolves have a rather depleted squad at the moment, but despite this, the Mali international is still not really playing, with Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes firmly established as the main midfield pairing at Molineux.
It is certainly a tricky situation for him to be in…
Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes partnership makes life very difficult for Boubacar Traore at Wolves
So far this season, Traore has made 17 appearances for Wolves across all competitions, but for a total of just 587 minutes, making him one of the least-used players for O’Neil.
The £9.5 million signing has been unable to break into the starting XI this term – and there are two big reasons why that has been the case.
Simply put, O’Neil is besotted by Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes and who can blame him, with the two players crucial to the new way in which Wolves play
This Wolves team is very high-octane and hardworking, and Lemina and Gomes are perfect for what O’Neil is trying to achieve.
The pair of them are elite ball winners, with Dave Edwards recently insisting Gomes is the best he’s seen in a Wolves shirt when it comes to that.
Lemina is essentially undroppable now for Wolves. He is simply a massive presence, and someone who performs week in, week out. He’s a leader, and will play every game he’s available for.
Gomes is also going to play the bulk of the games, with Tommy Doyle to be brought in here and there for contests where Wolves are expected to have more of the ball.
Doyle’s status as a ball-player and technician makes things doubly difficult for Traore, as that is not really his game.
Traore may be thinking about loan move next season
Traore is in a difficult spot right now.
He is not going to start over Lemina or Gomes, and he cannot hold a candle to Doyle in terms of playmaking and technical ability.
He is the fourth-choice midfielder right now and it’s difficult to see where his minutes are going to come from. Back in October, O’Neil stated that Trare had been training ‘exceptionally well’, but opportunities since those remarks have still been few and far between.
Of course, there’s always the possibility of one of the others picking up an injury which could open the door. But despite injuries elsewhere in the squad, the trio of Lemina, Gomes and Doyle have been very available for O’Neil this term.
All three seem to be extremely durable which makes life difficult for Traore.
The youngster is a real prospect, and the club are excited about him. But if there if his situation does not change between now and the end of the season, then he might agitate for a loan move. He’ll be acutely aware he’s at an important stage of his career where he needs to be developing and not stagnating.