Wolves have almost certainly seen the last of Craig Dawson, who has gone from hero to zero at Molineux.
When the Old Gold welcomed Dawson from West Ham in January 2023, there were mixed opinions but, his contribution to the experience side of things was paramount.
The 34-year-old went on to surprise many in the West Midlands, as he went from a Baggies villain to a Molineux hero, being a star player for Gary O’Neil during the 2023/24 campaign.
Now Vitor Pereira is at the helm, the view of Dawson has changed, as the defender has been used sparingly and has failed to overly impress.
Gary O’Neil’s 2024 admission about Craig Dawson speaks volumes
Wolves named their squad for the remainder of the Premier League season, updated with their three January signings.
As the three new faces were welcomed, three players were excluded from the squad, one of which being Dawson.
Some Wolves fans disagreed with Pereira’s squad decision, finding it senseless to leave Dawson out considering what the 34-year-old can offer but, his mind is made up.
Added to not being high in the pecking order, Dawson is in talks to terminate his contract, with all roads leading to an exit in the near future.
While some will find Dawson’s downfall surprising, O’Neil actually gave a clear hint that this outcome could happen.
Speaking at the start of the season, the former Wolves manager shared a shock admission about the Englishman, revealing that he was surprised to be a part of the squad.
“I don’t know whether he believed me when I told him in pre-season that he would be hugely important and he’d have a shirt at some point,” O’Neil said of Dawson’s future.
“He’s going to be massive for us. He knows the league, he’s good with the ball and he’s an expert at defending the goal.”
O’Neil’s prediction couldn’t have been more wrong, as six months down the line, Wolves are in talks to end Dawson’s stay prematurely.
Dawson was crucial to Wolves in 2023/24
The turnaround in the former West Ham star’s career at Wolves has been rapid, as it was only months ago that Dawson received high praise for his performance levels.
It’s not only positive feedback that proved the Englishman’s contribution to the Old Gold, as the numbers reinforce his importance to O’Neil’s squad last term.
| Statistic | Per game average | Rank at Wolves |
| Clearances | 4.8 | 1st |
| Blocks | 1.6 | 1st |
| Aerials won | 2.5 | 1st |
The outcome of the veteran defender’s career at Wolves is a real shame given what he has contributed in his two-year stay.
Reality is that Dawson almost expected to be frozen out of the picture at Molineux, as his comments to O’Neil at the start of the campaign suggest.