Wolves host Coventry City in an FA Cup quarter-final clash this Saturday lunchtime and Gary O’Neil has a few key decisions to make with his team selection.
Despite suffering several injuries to key players, Wolves arrive to take on Championship side Coventry in great shape.
Gary O’Neil’s men have won four of their last six matches in all competitions, including a 1-0 success over Brighton in the last round of the FA Cup.
With a chance to book their place in the semi-finals this lunchtime, the noise at Molineux will be raised a few decibels and the players will need to feed off that.
Wolves will expect to dominate large spells of possession and in games like this, Tommy Doyle has been used as an effective weapon and O’Neil should unleash him once more this afternoon.
Why Tommy Doyle should start against Coventry
Hailed as a “fantastic” talent by scout Jay Socik, Doyle’s loan move from Manchester City has been a success so far.
Despite playing understudy to the incredible midfield partnership of Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes, the 22-year-old has been used in matches where the Wanderers look to assume control of a contest.
Doyle possesses a superb passing range and unlike Gomes, he’s able to pick out those difficult long passes and split defensive lines.
Coventry will likely sit back at Molineux and look to hit Wolves on the counter attack, so this is where the £10k-a-week maestro comes into proceedings.
After all, he does rank in the top 10% of Premier League midfielders for passes attempted per game and the top 24% for progressive passes completed.
The Englishman is a calming influence in the engine room and during high-pressure matches, Doyle has the tools in his locker to rise to the big occasion.
In the last round, he was told he didn’t put a foot wrong as Wolves beat Brighton and having played in every single minute of their FA Cup journey, he deserves to keep his place in the side.
Doyle needs to produce a moment of magic
Technically, Doyle is arguably the best Wolves have had at recycling possession centrally and taking the ball in tight spaces.
He’s so comfortable in possession, and that radiates throughout the rest of the team.
When his teammates pass him in the ball, they’re confident he’ll pick out the right pass and in a game likely decided by fine margins, he has the quality to make the difference.
It promises to be a nerve-jangling afternoon for Wolves supporters, but they will be calmed somewhat if they see Doyle in the starting XI.