WOLVERHAMPTON Wanderers legend Andy Thompson has backed Marshal Munetsi to force his way into the team’s starting line-up this weekend following his impressive performance on his Premier League debut against Liverpool on Sunday.
Wolves lost 2-1 at Anfield after the home side had raced to a 2-0 lead at halftime.
The away side gave it everything they had, but fell just short on Merseyside, although the second-half performance was very encouraging.
Liverpool didn’t have a single shot against Wolves in the second-half, the first time it happened in the Premier League at Anfield since 2003/04.
One of the main reasons Wolves improved so much in the second half is because of the changes that their coach Vitor Pereira made at half-time — bringing in his new man Munetsi, who played as a false number 9, and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who went on to provide an assist for the goal scored by Matheus Cunha.
Munetsi, who was deployed in an unfamiliar forward position, replaced Portuguese star Goncalo Guedes, while Bellegarde came on for Spain international Pablo Sarabia.
The substitutes so nearly combined for a goal shortly after being introduced, a chance which was fluffed by Munetsi.
Thompson, who made 376 appearances for Wolves during the period 1986-1997, believes these two should start at Bournemouth on Saturday.
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“The team he sent out second-half, I think there’s a good chance of that being the team that starts next week. I think so,” he said on Matchday Live Extra.
“They looked like they had more legs than the other two. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not having a go at Sarabia or Guedes. They both struggled to get into the game.
“I think Bellegarde came on and played really well again . . . looked strong, looks like he had a lot of energy going forward.
“Munetsi is on that borderline, always looks a threat running. He had a great opportunity to score again. I think the team that came out for the second half could possibly be the team that starts the next game.”
Munetsi made a US$20 million deadline day move to Wolves from Reims in France a fortnight ago and got his English football audition last week when he also came on as a second half substitute in Wolves’ 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers in an FA Cup 4th-round tie.
Just like in the game against Blackburn, Munetsi, who is playing in a more advanced role for his new club, had a decent chance to score against Liverpool, from a one-versus-one situation, but the Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker made himself big to block the shot with his face.
Former England international and Manchester City great Micah Richards said he was surprised to see Munetsi playing in an advanced role, but was still impressed by the Warriors man performance.
“It’s weird because Munetsi sort of played as a number nine, a false nine,” the television pundit said.
“He was dropping in and then he was the furthest man forward.
“He’s actually a defensive midfielder but the manager really rates him. They had more energy in that second half.”
Pereira has hinted about Munetsi being a goal threat for Wolves, and it’s now abundantly clear that the Wolves boss considers the Mabvuku-born player to be an attacking presence to support in midfield.
Wolves might have parted with US$20 million for Munetsi, a record transfer fee for a Zimbabwean player, the early verdict suggests that the fee could prove to be a bargain.
Munetsi’s experience and energy have already provided some exciting moments in the opening stages of his career in England.
It will be interesting to see how Pereira lines up in the future with Munetsi, given how impactful the January signing has been in his first two matches in English football.
