Wolves are gearing up for their first Premier League game of the season against Manchester City – and Vitor Pereira has been urged to start one player in particular.
Wolves fans have been critical after pre-season, with the team failing to win any matches.
Vitor Pereira has been unable to call on many new players. Fer Lopez went on both trips to Portugal and Spain, but Jhon Arias only featured briefly against Girona and then Celta Vigo, and David Moller Wolfe got 45 minutes against Celta.
Undoubtedly, Wolves are entering the new season underprepared, which makes the game with City particularly daunting.
Erling Haaland has a 100% record of scoring in the opening round in the Premier League, so Wolves’ defence will need to be absolutely watertight to keep him at bay.
Wolves fans will hope their own Norwegian, Jorgen Strand Larsen, can steal upstage his international teammate.
And one man who could be key in helping him to do that is Marshall Munetsi.
Dave Edwards fully expects Marshall Munetsi to start for Wolves vs Man City
Marshall Munetsi playing for Wolves.
Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images
Munetsi arrived at Wolves from Reims at the end of the January 2025 transfer window.
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It has been an interesting spell so far for the Zimbabwe international, who tends to divide opinion.
He arguably has the best engine in the whole squad, but some feel that he sometimes lacks influence and isn’t that impactful on the ball.
But Pereira loves him and has started him regularly since buying him.
Earlier this year, Pereira praised Munetsi for helping to improve Strand Larsen, and Dave Edwards believes he should, and will, start against Manchester City on Saturday.
He said in his latest E&S column: “The team Vitor Pereira selected against Celta Vigo is probably close to his strongest side, but I fully expect Marshall Munetsi to come in for Fer Lopez, despite the Spaniard putting himself in a decent position as one of the stronger performers in pre-season.
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira looks on.
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“Against Manchester City, the type of team they are, I think having Munetsi in the team will help the situation.
“It also helps Jorgen Strand Larsen, who at times looked a little bit isolated against Celta Vigo. He needs to get players around him to help him and Munetsi will make his job a lot easier.
“It’ll help him find a little bit more space in the box when crosses are coming in and I think Pereira will be looking at that.”
Munetsi starting vs Man City would be no surprise
It is a common theme that City dominate possession when they play.
So teams have to defend well, contain and press – so this game could actually suit Munetsi quite well.
It would perhaps not be a universally popular decision. But it’s one that fans should definitely expect.
Munetsi is a firm favourite with the manager, who likes him for his running in the middle and also for the way he supports Strand Larsen up top, occupying defenders and freeing up space.
Lopez had a great pre-season, but this game with City might just come a little too early for him.