Gary O’Neil has revealed which player at Wolves has left him feeling impressed lately.
Gary O’Neil will be happy to have his Wolves squad back without any injury scares from the international break, with the Old Gold travelling to Aston Villa tomorrow.
The two Midlands rivals lock horns at Villa Park and the visitors will hope to strengthen their chances of finishing in Europe. O’Neil’s men are currently three points behind seventh-place West Ham having played a game fewer.
One reason why the Molineux side are in such a prominent position to qualify for Europe is having a settled defence for most of the season, with Craig Dawson, Toti Gomes and Max Kilman forming a rock-solid back three.
Unfortunately, Dawson injured his groin which has kept him sidelined for the 2-1 win over Fulham and the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Coventry.
While losing one of their most influential defenders was a big blow, it has allowed Santiago Bueno to flourish in defence, with O’Neil rewarding the patience he’s shown.
Gary O’Neil left impressed by Santiago Bueno
Wolves captured Bueno for £8.5 million from Girona last summer and the talented defender was praised by Argentine tactician Marcelo Bielsa.
During a difficult off-season for the club, luring the Uruguayan to Molineux looked like a shrewd piece of business.
The defensive titan made 34 appearances for Girona in La Liga last term and ranked in the top 12% of his positional peers for tackles while showcasing his ability on the ball by placing in the top 13% for progressive passes.
Sadly, since switching to England, the 25-year-old has had limited opportunities to demonstrate his qualities, however, that has changed in recent weeks following the injury to Dawson.
In his last two starts for the club, O’Neil has been left impressed with his attitude and recent performances.
“You could see him trying to get up to speed in training, but he’s a good guy and had a real understanding as to why it was taking him a while,” O’Neil told the Express & Star.
“He’s worked incredibly hard, has really good quality and I’m delighted that when he’s stepped in he’s done well.
“He stepped in against Fulham and did really, really well. I’m really pleased with where he is and how he’s done.”
Santiago Bueno should start against Aston Villa
In the pre-match press conference, it was confirmed that Dawson won’t feature.
This news perhaps gives Bueno a chance to continue his run in the side and stake a claim for a starting spot moving forward.
Having already impressed the Wolves faithful since his being introduced into the fray, Bueno can give O’Neil a difficult decision to make once Dawson returns by putting in an incredible performance.
A trip to Champions League-chasing Aston Villa will be a huge test of his quality and mental strength, but if he passes it with flying colours, O’Neil surely can’t drop the Uruguayan until he’s given a reason to.