Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has already been warned about the fitness of one crucial player this season.

The 2024/25 calendar was always going to present a difficult start for Wolves, who sit bottom of the Premier League table with one point.

Already, the Old Gold have faced five of last season’s top seven, with nothing to show for their efforts in the high-calibre clashes.

O’Neil’s side picked up their single point from Nottingham Forest on match day three, with the Midlands club in desperate need of a win in the coming weeks.

Concern raised about Wolves captain Mario Lemina after Liverpool defeat

Most recently, Wolves faced the task of going head-to-head with Liverpool at Molineux, with the Reds coming out on top.

It wasn’t simple for Arne Slot’s side as Wolves found a way to level the scoreline however, the hosts were only able to keep the tie equal for five minutes.

As expected, O’Neil’s side dropped points after being in a game in the second half, causing the players to share a feeling of disbelief after the game, seeing their winless streak extend.

Captain Mario Lemina looked dejected at full time as he was seen in tears on the pitch, with journalist Liam Keen sharing an important verdict on the midfielder in reaction to the defeat.

“It feels to me that he’s trying to do everything himself, he feels the weight and responsibility of being captain, of being an experienced player, he’s trying to do everything on his own,” Keen said on The Keen & Judah Show.

“I don’t think he ever will be rested but I think there’s an argument to say that he probably needs a rest.

“He looks like he’s struggling with that knee, and it looks like he’s running himself into the ground. He was crestfallen at the end of the game, he was in tears.”

It was incredibly sad to see Lemina react to the defeat as he did at Wolves, with his emotion coming through as the hosts failed to pick up points once more.

Gary O’Neil must rest Lemina

While Lemina is a crucial player in O’Neil’s squad, being experienced, versatile and of course club captain, Keen’s opinion on the midfielder needing a rest rings true.

The Gabon international was electric last season for Wolves, earning the armband from Max Kilman for his leadership and application in games.