Gary O’Neil has conducted his pre-Brighton press conference today with one topic being the centre of attention.
Wolves were braced for the worst earlier this week when 29-year-old midfielder Mario Lemina was subject of links to Liverpool.
A report by Foot Mercato said that Lemina emerged as an option to bolster Jurgen Klopp’s midfield options.
However with a contract which is due to run until 2025, O’Neil isn’t concerned about losing the midfielder.
He certainly gave no indication of any doubts, while speaking with press during Friday’s press conference.
O’Neil suggests Lemina could start
When asked about Lemina’s future at Wolves, O’Neil was clear that the player is in his plans.
“Mario is a huge part of what we are going to do this season. I haven’t heard anything about it.”
O’Neil continued to say that: “Mario has been extremely focused this week, he was excellent against Manchester United on Monday and I am sure he will be excellent again tomorrow.”
Clearly, Lemina is going nowhere anytime soon, especially considering his resurgent form which has seen Ruben Neves’ departure non-impactful.
How could Wolves line-up vs Brighton?
With the hint from O’Neil that Lemina will play, we expect a similar side to the one which played well against Manchester United.
We would like to see a front two of Fabio Silva and Matheus Cunha, with Cunha likely more of a second striker.
Pedro Neto on the left, Lemina and Joao Gomes in the middle with Matheus Nunes on the right.
Nelson Semedo should start at right-back with Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left then in the middle we expect Max Kilman and Craig Dawson to remain in place.
In goal, Jose Sa inevitably will also feature given his resurgent form.
Predicted XI: Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri; Gomes, Lemina; Nunes, Cunha, Neto; Silva.
