Wolves youngsters Tom Edozie and Mateus Mane could play regularly before the end of the season.placeholder image
Wolves youngsters Tom Edozie and Mateus Mane could play regularly before the end of the season. | Wolves via Getty Images
What Rob Edwards said about Tom Edozie and Wolves’ squad situation after the 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Rob Edwards has suggested that Wolverhampton Wanderers’ lack of squad depth will allow for youngsters to shine before the end of the season.
The Old Gold only have three first-team players injured in Toti Gomes, Hwang Hee-chan and Angel Gomes, so you would think the depth would be fine, but the squad was stripped during the winter transfer window. Wolves haven’t yet given up hope on survival, but relegation to the Championship is almost a certainty.
Edwards has been preparing for that reality for a while now, and that’s why many of the big-hitters were allowed to leave in January. Jorgen Strand Larsen, who departed for Crystal Palace in a £47 million deal, was the most significant of those.
Edwards hails Wolves debutant
As much as Wolves have been struggling for numbers and a clear structure, the current situation has the odd silver lining. Wednesday night’s valiant comeback to draw 2-2 with league leaders Arsenal was a fine example of that, as 19-year-old debutant Tom Edozie came off the bench to score the dramatic equaliser.
Edozie wasn’t even expecting to come on at all, let alone score the pivotal goal deep in second-half stoppage time, so it was a dream night for the teenager. More minutes could soon be on the horizon for Edozie and fellow Wolves youngsters, as Edwards has hinted at making further use of the academy.
"Obviously, we have a shorter squad now and some of the younger players know this could be their opportunity,” Edwards said after the Arsenal draw. “I was putting my arm round him (Edozie) when he was coming on and I said: 'This could be your moment now, mate. Go and make it happen.' And he did, so I'm really pleased for him.”
On the fightback in general, Edwards added: "I’m really pleased after going 2-0 down to a team like that to show the character, spirit and fight that we did. I'm really proud of the lads and what they produced. Never gave up - that has got to be a given for us. We are showing a lot of fight and quality in the right moments."
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