Wolves now have six Premier League games remaining, and many of their players are eagerly anticipating the summer.
Wanderers still have a slim chance of securing European football. However, it will be extremely difficult, since the club is now five points behind eighth-placed West Ham United.
Wolves have had a fantastic season, but a lack of squad depth is finally catching up with the players.
Following the draw with Burnley, O’Neil discussed the squad’s size and how he raised his concerns with the board. Given the budgetary constraints, Wolves had little choice but to accept the situation.
When Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-chan, and Pedro Neto were all injured at the same time, O’Neil had to rely on Leon Chiwome, Nathan Fraser, and Tawanda Chirewa to carry the team.
Some people are clearly beginning to feel fatigued.
Andy Thompson referred to Mario Lemina as ‘jaded’, and following Saturday’s draw with Nottingham Forest, O’Neil acknowledged that one of his key players was ‘exhausted’.
Gary O’Neil drops a worrying update on Nelson Semedo as burnout fears grow
On Saturday, Nelson Semedo made his 36th appearance for Wolves in all competitions.
The Portugal international has had an outstanding season and has earned the manager’s total faith from the start.
The 30-year-old has essentially played at every opportunity, and O’Neil is a big fan of what he brings to the table.
But he’s looked a little off his usual high level in the last few games, and it’s clear that the quantity of football he’s played and the lack of rotation are catching up to him. Only Wolves captain Max Kilman has played more minutes than him this season (according to WhoScored).
O’Neil replaced Semedo on 88 minutes against Forest, with the defender walking off, and O’Neil revealed afterwards (via Wolves official): “Nelson [Semedo] was exhausted and both hamstrings tightened up.”
Semedo needs a rest
Semedo must be near to burnout at this moment, given how much football he has played this season.
It’s worth noting that he plays as a right wing-back, a position that requires the player to bomb up and down the channel to provide help in both attack and defense.
Semedo is extremely fit, but the amount of involvement was bound to catch up with him.
Ideally, he would be rotated off the team. Matt Doherty might replace him, while Hugo Bueno and Rayan Ait-Nouri could play on the other side.
But we know O’Neil adores Semedo, and it’s apparent he believes there will be a reduction in quality.
Wolves fans will just hope that Semedo avoids any injury and gets some much-needed rest soon. He, like several other Wolves players, has suffered hamstring injuries throughout his career.
