Wolves journalist Joe Edwards doesn’t think that Daniel Podence will be in a position to start for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men just yet.
The Old Gold travel to Fulham on Friday night in a game that is certain to have major implications for the home side given their place in the table, whilst Wolves aren’t really playing for much other than pride as they look to correct one of the worst runs of form in the whole division.
One player though who, at least in the mind of Edwards, won’t be playing from the outset is the Portuguese attacker, who is valued at £22.5m on Transfermarkt.
Podence has only just come back from a recent adductor injury and played 45 minutes against West Ham United on Monday. Predicting the Wolves lineup on the E&S Wolves podcast, Edwards felt that it was still too soon for him to be considered for the starting XI:
“Podence on the bench, with the idea that he’ll probably come on for the second half last half hour. I don’t think he’ll be at the stage yet where they will want to be putting too much into him and especially with what’s happened with Jonny, I think that’s a reminder to everyone, I guess, to be extra cautious. I think he’ll still be kind of starting and coming off or coming off the bench in games.”
Have Wolves missed Podence recently?
Yes
TIF Thoughts on Joe Edwards’ thoughts on Daniel Podence…
Edwards is right to be cautious when it comes to handling Podence’s injury. Even though Wolves aren’t totally safe yet as a Fulham win would leave the Molineux outfit just six points off the relegation zone, they should have enough to get themselves over the line, especially when you consider Fulham’s form has even been worse than theirs.
So the last thing they need is for him to reinjure himself and be in a position to jeopardise the rest of the season, or even worse, the beginning of the next one when they’ll be hoping for a fresh start. No need to take any major risks unless they really have to.
In other news: ‘He could do a job’ – Wolves told to sign potential free agent who’s a ‘natural left-footer’