Wolves are taking on Manchester United in the Premier League on Boxing Day and Vitor Pereira has dropped some team news today.
Pereira got off to a fantastic start in his first game in charge last weekend against Leicester City.
Wolves won 3-0 at the King Power Stadium and it was a very assured performance overall from Wanderers.
Wolves fans sang Pereira’s name during the Leicester game, and there seems to be renewed optimism now after the result.
Pereira has been saying all the right things. But ultimately it’s about getting results now, and fans will hope the result against Leicester can be followed up.
It’s Manchester United at Molineux up next for Wolves and Pereira today gave an update on Mario Lemina.
Mario Lemina in contention to return to Wolves squad for Man United game
Mario Lemina of Wolverhampton Wanderers warms up prior to the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Ipswich Town FC at Moline...
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Mario Lemina was ruled out of Wolves’ squad to face Leicester after he had picked up a calf injury.
The midfielder’s absence saw Pereira turn to Andre and Joao Gomes, with Tommy Doyle again named on the bench.
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The Brazilians did really well, with Andy Thompson branding Andre ‘exceptional’ for Wolves.
Speaking ahead of the game with United, Pereira suggested that Lemina could well return to the matchday squad.
He said (via Wolves official): “I think it is a small injury, but I didn’t want to take the risk.
“Because we don’t have a lot of midfielders, I hope that he is able to help us [against Man United].”
Lemina shouldn’t start against Man United even if fit
So it sounds like Lemina is touch-and-go to make the squad to face United.
But there is a very strong argument for Pereira just sticking with Andre and Gomes in midfield since they both did so well against Leicester.
There’s potential to upset the dynamic by adding Lemina back in, or replacing one of them with Lemina.
It was a really strong performance from the Brazilian pairing and it makes little sense to change a winning formula.
Lemina has struggled this season and of course, he recently lost the captaincy.
So it hasn’t been the best time for him. But the Gabon international still has an important role to play and must be ready to try and impress the new manager when called upon.
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