Cesar Peixoto confirmed he’ll make changes to his starting eleven at Everton this week in a bid to strengthen the options in his whole squad.
The Old Gold travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for Carabao Cup action on Wednesday evening, and the head coach will use the cup tie to give more members of his squad minutes to increase the competition for places within his group.
The power of the bench was clear at Sheffield United on Sunday, as Wolves won it late on, with Kieran Trippier and Jordan James both coming on, and the pair were also praised in the head coach’s pre-match press conference.
On his team selection at Everton
“I’ll make changes because we have confidence in all the players. We have players who need minutes, so they are to the same level to fight each other to play in the starting 11. I want to see what we’re capable of doing against Everton and we’ll put out a competitive team because I have a lot of confidence in all of the players.”
On coping with midweek football
“It’s better when you have a week to train last week, so the team grows up. I analysed the last game [against Birmingham] and we grew up and won [against Sheff United]. But it is what it is, we have to manage the situation, the Championship is like that. We have to recover and that’s why I want two players for per position, to face these kinds of games.
“We need all of the players. On Sunday we showed that players who come from the bench are very important to winning the game. I want to give players confidence, give them minutes and give them space to show their quality in matches because I have confidence in them all.”
Next up, Everton away 🏆 pic.twitter.com/z11hoHGLcC
— Wolves (@Wolves) September 14, 2026
On Jordan James’ opportunities
“Jordan arrived later than some of the other players. Now he’s at a good level and understands more clearly what I want from him physically. I spoke with him last week. He needs to play more minutes and change little things without the ball. With the ball he has quality, but when we lose possession, he has to react more strongly, he has to be more aggressive when we don’t have the ball and stronger in the duels, but it’s normal.
“He’s only 22 and he’s a player we have a lot of confidence in. For sure, he’ll start games in our team in the future, but it’s a process. Marshall is doing a great job, so Jordan has to wait for his opportunity and, when it comes, take it and stay in the team.
“If the players fight with each other for places in training during the week, then we’ll be stronger when we have to compete against other teams. I want that competition inside the squad, always with respect. It helps improve the players individually and the team collectively.”
On Trippier’s welcome return
“Kieran’s one of the captains and he’s a very important character inside the group. He’s the soul of the team. He’s an important player, he talks a lot, helps the younger players and brings a lot of experience into games. He understands the game and understands what I want.
“On Sunday we were able to give him some minutes, and hopefully against Everton we can give him more. We want to bring him back to the highest possible level because we need him. Whether he’s in the starting eleven or coming from the bench, he’s a very, very important player for us.”
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