Wolves played out a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday and with Mario Lemina receiving a red card, there is now a potential golden opportunity for Boubacar Traore to impress.
Lemina had been a yellow card, but then picked up a second in injury-time.
He pulled Nico Zaniolo’s shirt, and the referee didn’t hesitate to produce the second yellow.
Gary O’Neil said after the game that it was the wrong decision from Lemina and that he should have just let Villa attack.
But the manager also said that he’s been there himself, and understands the decision he made.
Lemina will now miss Bournemouth away after the international break. He would have missed the game with the Cherries anyway, because the first booking he got was his fifth of the season.
It means there could be a real opportunity for Traore to shine…
Lemina sending off surely means a chance for Boubacar Traore
There is surely now an opportunity for Traore to come in and start for the first time this season in the Premier League.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde will also be available for selection again after serving his suspension.
He could come in, but there may only be two midfield spots if O’Neil sticks with a back three.
But you get the feeling that £55,000-a-week star Traore is in with a good shout of starting against Bournemouth.
The Malian has made some good cameo appearances recently.
And he’s a player O’Neil seems to rate quite a bit. He has brought him up in interviews recently without being asked directly about him.
That is always a good sign for a player.
Traore was the only player that emerged from that awful defeat to Ipswich with a bit of credit for his display.
Arguably, he now deserves his chance.
He’s someone the club are very excited about. He’s been unlucky with injuries in 2023, but hopefully he can get a chance against Bournemouth and take it.