Circumstances may mean Gary O’Neil hands £5m Wolves player his first PL start against Newcastle

We are now in the first international break of the season, which is a nervous time for managers.

Gary O’Neil will have everything crossed that all those involved for Wolves will return to the club unscathed.

Currently, there are some concerns though.

Mario Lemina is reported to have withdrawn from the Gabon camp, while Rayan Ait-Nouri was said to have turned up to the Algeria squad carrying a knock.

Hopefully neither of their injuries are too serious. Lemina has started the new campaign especially well and O’Neil would hate to lose his captain for even just one game.

O’Neil also has a potential situation on his hands regarding Andre and Joao Gomes – and it could therefore mean Tommy Doyle finally gets his first Premier League start.

Tommy Doyle in with a great chance to start against Newcastle

Lemina may well be totally fine by the time club football resumes.

 

But O’Neil also has to think about two of his other midfielders Andre and Joao Gomes, who are both currently with the Brazil squad.

Brazil have a game against Ecuador in the early hours of Saturday morning (UK time), and they then face Paraguay in the early hours of Wednesday morning (UK time).

Andre has not actually played for Brazil since March, having had injury problems. But he’s back in the squad now and could be set for minutes.

Gomes has a very good chance of featuring, having started all four of Brazil’s games at the Copa America over the summer. He is certainly a player Dorival Junior likes, after handing him his debut against England earlier this year.

Given the potential for both to play and all the travelling, this will mean Doyle – who signed for Wolves permanently in the summer for just under £5 million – has a very reasonable chance of starting against Newcastle for Wolves on September 15.