This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Wolverhampton Wanderers could rest several of their first-team stars this week as they play Besiktas in a dead-rubber Europa League tie before hosting Jose Mourinho’s rampant Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
What’s he said?
The west Midlanders have already qualified for the knockout stages, but they would need to better SC Braga’s result against Slovan Bratislava to top the group.
Wolves boss Nuno Santo has taken his squad to Marbella for some warm weather training this week where they will return on Wednesday in time for their fixture on Thursday evening.
Tim Spiers, The Athletic’s club correspondent, has provided an update on the players that have travelled with a number of youngsters making the trip.
He said:
Team selection clues
Wolves are certainly doing a very good job on dispelling the myth that a Europa League campaign can damage their league hopes – they currently sit sixth in the table with only one team, Liverpool, losing fewer matches.
However, with so many games coming thick and fast over the festive period and into 2020, the small squad at Nuno’s disposal is really going to be tested.
Spiers suggests that as many as seven youth prospects have gone to Marbella so it seems likely that they will be involved on Thursday night.
The likes of Raul Jimenez, who has played what seems like a million games this calendar year, Matt Doherty and Leander Dendoncker could all do with a rest ahead of this weekend’s tough league fixture.
It would make a ton of sense to rotate now as the club have already advanced into the next round – there’s also no guarantee that Braga rest their players so is it really a risk worth taking?
Wolves have used just 19 players in the top-flight this season. A few injuries would seriously scupper their chances of going one better than last season.
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In other news, goalkeeper John Ruddy’s replacement this summer is already at the club.