Wolverhampton Wanderers will definitely be without key duo Ruben Neves and Raul Jimenez for the trip to Newcastle United on Friday. Jimenez is serving the second of a two-match ban for the red card he picked up in the 3-2 defeat to Leeds United before the international break.
The Mexico international picked up a second yellow card for a challenge with Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier and following his red card earlier in the season at Manchester City, incurred a two-match suspension. Young striker Fabio Silva stood in for Jimenez for Wolves’ 2-1 win over Aston Villa at the weekend, which prompted manager Bruno Lage to praise him for his performance.
Via quotes from Birmingham Live, he said: “It was very good, not just his offensive work but also his defensive work. I don’t remember a game, especially with me, that Fabio wins as many duels, especially body contacts. That’s the thing, every time, it’s a chance to show the work he’s doing during the week.
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“Fabio deserved to play a little bit more. I’m the first guy to say that. He’s a victim of what happened in these 30 games, when most of the time, the third substitution, I need to hold on a little bit - and I’ve already done 18 subs with my right-back or my left-back. But he’s growing up. This is football and about managing decisions. The only thing he can control is his work during the week.”
Key midfielder Neves will also be absent for the clash with the Magpies after picking up a knee injury in the same game as Jimenez picked up a yellow card. The Portugal international isn’t set to return until May, leaving Joao Moutinho and Leander Dendoncker as his replacements.
