Wolverhampton Wanderers face a selection dilemma courtesy of some injuries and suspensions.
Wolverhampton Wanderers now know that their destiny is in their own hands and, against Hull City tonight, they can take another huge step towards securing their place in the Premier League next season.
The table toppers saw off the challenge of Middlesbrough despite going down to nine men last week, in a game which ended a near-seven decade wait for a victory against the club. That was seen as a sign, and now it legitimately feels like nothing can stand in their way.
Matt Doherty and Ruben Neves were the two men who saw red up north and, while the game may have descended into anarchy, what should be focused on is the impact of their absences at Molineux this evening.
They will stand alongside Helder Costa and Diogo Jota who, as reported by the Express & Star, are carrying niggles in the wake of the Boro game, which at times resembled something from a war film. Despite all this, however, the club’s strength in depth means that Wolves’ supporters should be excited about the prospect of fringe players coming in and proving themselves.
The likes of Vinagre and N’Diaye will probably come into the side, and while neither have proven themselves to be world beaters thus far, they represent the mentality that Nuno Espirito Santo has been drilling into this side. They will want to be known as the stars who pushed Wolves to within just a few points of promotion, especially for N’Diaye, who will look to fill the shoes of Portuguese international Ruben Neves.
In a game at home to a struggling side, there is always the possibility of nerves kicking in, but this team has been in this situation so many times over the course of the campaign. They know that they hold a 13-point advantage over third and, if they had their strongest XI playing against Hull, they may have sat back on that. However a fresh line-up allows others to heal while often used substitutes can stake their claim for a place not only in the Championship but in the Premier League.
If Cardiff City were visiting Molineux in a few hours time there may be some cause for panic but, against Hull, this Wolves team should still possess the killer instinct we have seen all season long.
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