Wolves are taking on Fulham tonight at Craven Cottage in the Premier League – and there will be no Craig Dawson at the back for the visitors.
Following a brilliant 2-1 comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur before the international break, there is optimism about Wolves heading into this game, against a side that have lost three of their last four in the league.
Wolves showed brilliant character to beat Spurs after trailing for most of the game.
So fans are expectant tonight, but O’Neil must try to mastermind a win without one of his most important players.
Dawson got his fifth booking of the season against Spurs and is serving a one-game ban.
It’s important for others to step up, none more so than captain Max Kilman…
A big night for Wolves captain Max Kilman in the absence of Craig Dawson against Fulham
Tonight is only the second time Dawson has missed a Premier League game for Wolves.
He signed in January from West Ham United, and was sat in the stands for the game with Manchester City in January as he had not been registered in time to play.
He was in the starting XI the following weekend for his debut against Liverpool, against whom he scored.
Dawson would then start every game until the very last one against Arsenal.
Currently, the game with the Gunners is the only other time Dawson hasn’t featured for Wolves in the Premier League – and they lost 5-0.
Granted, there was obviously a huge end-of-season feel to that game, with Wolves having nothing to play for. But it was still a little glimpse of the team without the veteran.
Tonight, captain Max Kilman has to step up for Wolves.
The 26-year-old has been fantastic in recent weeks after a bit of a shaky start to the new season, which was perhaps brought about by the pressure of wearing the captain’s armband.
Some people feel as though Kilman has been able to really shine for Wolves since Dawson came to the club but tonight he will not have his partner in crime alongside him. Instead it will be him and Toti Gomes, and it’s possible Santiago Bueno could come in for his first start. If that is to be the case, then it’s an especially big night for Kilman, who’ll need to help guide him through the game.
The £50,000-a-week star will be one of the most experienced players out there for Wolves, and he has to dominate at the back in Dawson’s absence. Recent data did show that he and the 33-year-old had been very strong in aerial duels this season.