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Gary O'Neil makes 'struggled for years' Wolves comment amid Santi Bueno fitness update

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil celebrates
-Credit: (Image: PA)


Wolves' manager Gary O’Neil has a positive outlook on the team's recent form, saying they "are in a decent moment" ahead of their attempt to secure a fourth consecutive unbeaten game in the Premier League at Fulham.

Following a win against Southampton and draws with Brighton and Crystal Palace, Wolves could escape the relegation zone if they triumph on Saturday and other results favour them.

O’Neil expressed his satisfaction with the performances, despite earlier results, stating: "It’s been an interesting season for us so far...not the results, just the performances I was really pleased with for such a long time at the start.

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"But we are in a decent moment – as strange as that sounds because of where we are in the league. Five points from three Premier League games is always good going, especially with the pressure that was on those two home games before the international break.

"To take four points from them was big and we’ll try and carry some of that momentum into the next one."

Although scoring goals has been a strong suit, the challenge for Wolves has been their defence, with the highest number of conceded goals in the league. Still, the clean sheet picked up against the Saints gives hope for further improvements.

"We do look like scoring goals, and before I arrived, Wolves struggled for years and years to score goals. They were one of the lowest scorers in the league for a very long time and we always look like scoring now – but it’s trying to find that right balance between that and making sure we’re solid enough.

"We definitely don’t want to take away from being an attacking team because some of our best moments come from Matheus Cunha’s freedom and getting players forward.

"But we do need to find a way to be solid. We need to help the boys with understanding how to defend the goal better. The front players need to protect them better, it’s about all of it as a team."

Santi Bueno, who had to withdraw from the Uruguay squad due to injury concerns, is back in training and could be in contention for the next match. O’Neil shared: "Santi’s done some work on the grass, he’ll travel with us and we’re hopeful that he can make it. We have a few to check on but I’m hopeful that we’ll be OK.

"I’m confident we’ll be able to name a strong team. There are a couple of checks and I don’t want to give too much away, but I’m hopeful that we’ll be fine."