Wolves winger Adama Traore could be set for an extended period on Bruno Lage’s bench, according to Sky Sports pundit Gabby Agbonlahor.
The Lowdown: Struggles under Lage
Following two short-lived spells with Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, Traore finally found a home in Wolverhampton and has made 140 appearances since joining the club in 2018.
His best season for the Wanderers came in the 2019/20 term, when he played 54 times across the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup, scoring six goals and assisting 12 others.
However, under Bruno Lage, Traore is yet to score or assist in nine appearances in all competitions and has only featured for 20 minutes in the previous two games – the victories over Southampton and Newcastle United.
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The Latest: No need to rely on Traore
Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonalhor delivered his verdict on the situation at Molineux, saying: “It’s good that other players are stepping up. They don’t have to rely on Traore.
“Maybe now they’ve got a forward who has come in and proven that he can cause damage, they’ve got options, they don’t have to play Traore every game who is not providing goals or assists. They can keep him on the bench.
“They’ve got Trincao as well and Daniel Podence.
“It’s looking better for Wolves now and this is what they needed after a worrying start to the season.”
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The Verdict: Contract situation unclear
After having his name linked with a reunion with Nuno Espirito Santo at Tottenham Hotspur, Traore’s contract situation at Wolves remains ongoing and not starting as much as he has previously may well shift his eyes to elsewhere.
However, with a zero goal contributions all season, it is no surprise that Hwang Hee-Chan has replaced him in Lage’s side, with the South Korea international netting three goals and becoming Wolves’ top goalscorer.
Traore’s electric and direct dribbling is a strong tool to use off the bench, something Lage has done this season, but whether Traore will settle for that is a different story.
In other news, this player has been linked with a move to Molineux. Find out more here.
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