Having dislocated his shoulder early on in Wolves’ 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United in Gameweek 34, Adama Traoré (£5.6m) is only a substitute for today’s clash against Everton.
The rapid winger did manage 78 minutes at Bramall Lane but drops out in favour of the returning Pedro Neto (£5.0m).
On the other flank, Daniel Podence (£4.9m) replaces Diogo Jota (£6.0m) while Joao Moutinho (£5.4m) joins his countryman on the bench as Leander Dendoncker (£4.4m) starts the game.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s chosen widemen Podence and Neto play either side of Raul Jimenez (£8.1m), who is on a run of three consecutive blanks.
Mason Holgate (£4.4m) fails to make the Everton matchday squad due to injury, despite Carlo Ancelotti being hopeful that the defender could make a quick return to action after picking up a shin problem in GW33.
The Italian manager has also made three line-up changes, with Leighton Baines (£4.9m) earning a rare start in place of the benched Seamus Coleman (£5.3m).
Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.3m) replaces Andre Gomes (£5.2m) – another player who is absent through injury – while Theo Walcott (£6.2m) earns his first post-restart minutes in place of fellow ex-Arsenal man Alex Iwobi (£5.6m).
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.3m), who has yet to register an FPL return since the return of the Premier League, partners Richarlison (£8.2m) up top.
Ancelotti was not in the mood to give much away in his pre-match interview on Sky Sports but was pushed to reveal that Everton will use a wing-back system.
Eleven players that I would like to see defend well and attack well. It’s not a clear line-up for you.
For the players and for me, we didn’t have a lot of time to try but I hope it’s going to work.
Three at the back, I think so. Sometimes three, sometimes five, it depends. – Carlo Ancelotti
Nuno was slightly more insightful as to why he has changed around the Wolves line-up and on Traoré’s benching.
We created a lot of situations [v Sheffield United] that required finishing the action, shooting on goal. Bad positioning, bad passing, something that we have to improve.
[Traoré is] available. He’s been dealing with his shoulder problem. He’s been struggling with pain but he’s available. If we consider that we can use him, we will do so. – Nuno Espirito Santo
Wolves XI (3-4-3): Patricio; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Neves, Dendoncker, Doherty; Podence, Jimenez, Neto.
Everton XI (3-5-2): Pickford; Baines, Keane, Mina; Digne, Gordon, Davies, Sigurdsson, Walcott; Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.
3 years, 10 months ago
UTTERLY ABSURD DIGNE STILL ON THE PITCH!
yes I'm shouting.
How in the heck has he not been booked again???
How can the refereeing be so inconsistent across the league and sport?