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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Wolves compete in their fourth Europa League game of the season tonight, despite playing just once in the Premier League.
The level of demand and frequency at which competitive games have been fired at them is only a mark of the season to come, especially as they have one foot already in the Europa League group stage.
Two games per week is going to soon become the norm for Nuno Santo and his ambitious Wolves side.
Historically, the burden of Europa League football has hampered league form with Everton, Burnley, West Ham and Southampton all being viable cases - something we have documented on Football FanCast before.
Wolves will want to be an exception to that and how they handle games like tonight will go a long way in determining so.
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On the Chalkboard
Wolves carry a hefty four goal advantage into the second leg against Pyunik which will be played on their home ground, Molineux.
Nuno can afford to rest a number of his key stars before their big game against Manchester United on Monday and thus, it will give valuable game time for some of his fringe stars.
It is this sort of rotation and management of bodies that will be the key to whether Wolves can cope with the added burden of extra matches this season.
By resting the majority of his first-team, the Portuguese boss will keep them fresh for the second Premier League game of the season whilst also ensuring fitness and match experience is up to scratch in case the backups ever need calling upon.
For instance, Jesus Vallejo, who joined the club on loan from Real Madrid, hasn't played a single game yet and it is unlikely he would even be prepared enough to play if an injury to Conor Coady or Willy Boly occurred.
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They also have a number of promising youth stars who remain at the club without featuring much amongst the first-team so their potential may not ever be reached unless given the chance.
The game could be used to give Pedro Neto a first outing whilst Morgan Gibbs-White, Max Kilman and Ruben Vinagre may all be given more minutes too.
Nuno will need the use of his entire squad throughout the course of this season - injuries or not - if he is to successfully pull off a repeat of their Premier League exploits on top of a decent showing in the Europa League.
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