“SHOCKING Omission: Why Sam Johnstone Was LEFT OUT of Wolves’ Matchday Squad Against Southampton
Wolves secured a crucial victory over Southampton on Saturday, moving nine points clear of the relegation zone.
However, one notable absence was goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who was missing from the matchday squad.
Jorgen Strand Larsen was the star of the show, netting a brace at St. Mary’s Stadium. Wolves fans were thrilled to see the team play to Strand Larsen’s strengths, delivering more crosses to him than in previous matches.
The Norwegian had faced criticism recently, making his performance in such an important win all the more satisfying.
According to Opta data, Wolves now have just a 1.8% chance of slipping back into the relegation zone, with everything pointing towards a successful fight for survival.
A key factor in the team’s recent improvements under Vitor Pereira is a more settled defense.
Jose Sa, in particular, has been far more consistent compared to earlier in the season, keeping Johnstone out of the starting XI.
Johnstone was notably absent from the squad against Southampton, and the reason behind his omission has now been revealed.
Since joining from Crystal Palace last summer, Johnstone has missed six matchday squads, typically due to illness or injury. However, neither of these reasons applied this time.
Why Sam Johnstone Missed the Southampton Game
According to Liam Keen on X, Vitor Pereira confirmed that Johnstone was given permission to miss the game because his wife is having a baby.
As a result, Dan Bentley made the matchday squad for the 12th time this season.
Pedro Lima and Boubacar Traore Left Out for Tactical Reasons
Pedro Lima and Boubacar Traore were also left out of the squad for the Southampton match. Pereira explained that both players were omitted as part of a tactical decision.
The fact that Pereira could afford to leave out Lima and Traore highlights the growing depth in the squad, which is a positive sign for Wolves.
Hopefully, the duo will respond to this omission by working hard to earn a place in the squad for the upcoming match against West Ham after the international break.
Wolves are now nearly safe from relegation, but they just need to secure a few more points to seal their survival.
Once that is achieved, Pereira can begin giving players like Lima, Traore, and Johnstone more opportunities to prove their worth.
