Liam Keen comment: Mario Lemina's behaviour a slap in the face to Wolves that stood by him
If Wolves' trip to Newcastle was not already hard enough, they did not need the added distraction of Mario Lemina's conduct.
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The former captain was due to be part of the squad, but he informed Vitor Pereira that he would not travel with the team to the North East just moments before the team boarded the coach at Compton.
He refused to play. He refused to help his team. Whatever his reasons are, he has handled himself appallingly.
When Wolves needed Lemina, the midfielder ran in the opposite direction and his behaviour is a slap in the face to the club, team-mates and fans that stood by him.
When the player arrived in January 2023 he quickly became a fans' favourite with his marauding midfield performances.
He played a big part in Wolves staying in the Premier League under Julen Lopetegui, and then last year he won the club's player of the season award after a magnificent 2023/24 campaign.
After Max Kilman was sold in the summer, Lemina was correctly handed the armband and his Wolves career was ready for the next step. He is well-liked in the dressing room, was appreciated by Gary O'Neil and looked set for a big season.
He has always been emotional, but often that helped inspire his performances. Everyone wanted the best for Lemina and his relationships at Wolves were strong.
The difficult start to the season impacted the dressing room, but Lemina lost the captaincy due to his own behaviour. His outburst at West Ham, where he pushed team-mates and squared up to first team coach Shaun Derry, was embarrassing.
