Wolves face Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend – and there is a strong case to be made for one player in particular to start for Wanderers.
Wolves are on a four-game losing streak in the league at the moment, and Vitor Pereira could really do with three points after the club slipped into the relegation zone last weekend.
Last time out, Wolves lost 1-0 to Arsenal – and it was an opportunity missed.
Arsenal may be near the top of the league, but they went down to 10 men in the game and Wolves did not capitalise on the situation before Joao Gomes was then sent off.
Pereira’s team selection against Arsenal was quite interesting.
Some felt that Rodrigo Gomes should perhaps have played – and the youngster deserves to come back into the team against Villa.
Why Rodrigo Gomes should start for Wolves against Aston Villa
Rodrigo Gomes has been seeing more involvement for Wolves since the arrival of Pereira, and fans are pleased about that.
Under Gary O’Neil, he didn’t get much of a look-in. But Rodrigo has arguably been one of Wolves’ best players under Pereira so far.
He scored in the recent games against Leicester City and Bristol City in the FA Cup, and it has been obvious recently that he’s been playing with more confidence.
Even during the defeat to Chelsea, Rodrigo impressed off the bench.
He seems to really feel the belief in him from Pereira, and he should not come back into the team against Villa – him missing out against Arsenal was a strange decision from the manager.
Rayan Ait-Nouri has not been his usual self recently and could have no complaints if he was dropped. Rodrigo, as we know, can play at left wing-back. Andy Thompson suggests Ait-Nouri should actually have been dropped against Arsenal, but the manager persisted with the Algerian.
There is also scope for Rodrigo playing at right wing-back, which was the position he excelled in last term on loan at Estoril. Perhaps Nelson Semedo could play on the right of a three, with Rodrigo as the wing-back. That particular change would see Matt Doherty drop out of the starting XI.
But there could also be room for him in the attacking line.
Pablo Sarabia did not impress against Arsenal and Rodrigo could easily come in for the Spaniard on the right side.
Rodrigo should be a regular
Perhaps if this was his second season at Wolves, or the club’s current league position was less precarious, Rodrigo would have been more involved than he has been.
But just lately, he’s been showing that he deserves to be starting games regularly for Wolves.
Rodrigo – who cost around £12.7 million (BBC Sport) from Braga – is one of the hardest-working players in the team, and he also provides an outlet and a goal threat. You also just get the sense it’s an honor for him to actually play in the Premier League.
Liam Keen recently described Rodrigo as ‘infectious’, and it feels that he should be starting regularly for Wolves given his amazing work-rate above all else. There is not a chance players like Sarabia, Doherty, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Carlos Forbs and Hwang Hee-chan should be above him in the pecking order at this point.
Pereira recently branded Rodrigo ‘fantastic’ and a player for the present – and hopefully, he will soon make himself undroppable. A strong display against Villa will definitely help his cause.