Senior players needed as Wolves boss defends squad's leaders

Wolves come into the game following damaging defeats to Everton and Bournemouth, which has led many to criticise the leaders in a squad that has sold their captain in each of the last three seasons.

But O'Neil - who is under increasing pressure for his job - says his young side will need those experienced players to help them get out of relegation trouble.

"We are a young group in terms of Premier League experience," O'Neil said when asked if his team has enough leaders.

"Hee-chan comes under some criticism when I put him on the pitch at the moment, but when you look at Premier League calibre, he's one of the ones that has that on our bench and he was our top goalscorer last year.

"Sometimes there needs to be a realism attached to the situation around some of the boys, what we signed them for and when they're going to be ready.

"We're working hard to get them ready as quickly as possible, but Pedro Lima was not signed to help the Premier League campaign this season.

"Rodrigo Gomes was signed to help in bits as a back-up, same for Carlos Forbs, they're very, very young with no Premier League experience.

"There is a lot to consider when we're making these decisions.

"The spotlight then turns to the senior ones because there's a lot of scrutiny.

"When there's a lot of goals going in, I'm guessing eyes turn to the senior ones to see how they're responding, but they are a good group.

"It can be difficult with body language when you're constantly suffering setbacks, but they're ready to fight again.

"We can only ask them to produce the best of themselves and we will continue to do so and it's then on me to find the right answers."