Wolverhampton Wanderers want to win consecutive Premier League games for the first time since February against Manchester City.
Gary O’Neil’s debut season at Molineux has been promising, but with games against City and Liverpool coming up, is a top half finish beyond of reach?
With injuries hitting at the worst time of the season, O’Neil may make a few changes to his starting XI as they face the champions.
Rayan Ait Nouri suffered an injury and was substituted against Luton Town. If he is not healthy, the manager may need to replace him.
Players who could replace Rayan Ait Nouri:
Wolves have limited possibilities to replace the injured Algerian player, and O’Neil did not provide any information about the situation during his pre-match press conference.
Matt Doherty has played on the left numerous times this season, but he will replace Nelson Semedo on the right side of midfield as the Portuguese defender lowers deeper to play with Max Kilman and Toti Gomes in the centre of the defence.
Hugo Bueno might be a suitable option for Ait Nouri against Pep Guardiola’s team, allowing him to establish himself ahead of next season. His teammate has been linked with Arsenal and other ‘big six’ clubs.
Hugo Bueno’s statistics this season for the Wolves
Bueno had a breakthrough season in 2022/23, playing 23 appearances across all competitions. This provided a great foundation for his current campaign.
Due to Ait-Nouri’s form, the Spaniard has been dependant on bench appearances, starting only seven games this season, but he could be called up to the starting XI versus City.
Journalist Liam Keen praised the 21-year-old as a “promising talent” after he signed a new four-year contract at the Old
Gold in 2022.
| Comparing Bueno to Ait Nouri in the Premier League this season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metric | Bueno | Ait-Nouri |
| Goals | 0 | 2 |
| Assists | 0 | 1 |
| Big chances created | 2 | 2 |
| Possession lost per game | 6 | 10.1 |
| Key passes per game | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Stats via Sofascore | ||
Despite playing only 36 minutes per game in the Premier League, Bueno has created two major chances, averaging 0.3 vital passes and 0.4 successful dribbles per match, demonstrating his attacking potential.
On defence, he averages one tackle per game, wins 2.1 duels (46% success rate), and loses possession six times per match.
Wolves may miss Ait-Nouri, who averages 1.9 dribbles and 0.7 shots per game. However, Bueno can establish himself as a regular by performing well versus City.
There is no dispute about his abilities, but if the teenager is to maintain his upward trajectory, he must have a more consistent run with the first squad; otherwise, his performances would suffer.
Wolves overcame City 2-1 earlier this season, but Guardiola’s men have looked like a different club in the latter stages of the season, suggesting how difficult a match it will be for O’Neil and co.
With interest in Ait-Nouri growing, it could be the ideal time for Bueno to show what he can do against elite opponents.
Leave a Reply