Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O'Neil hopeful Pedro Neto hamstring injury is 'not severe'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 29 October 2023

O'Neil hopeful Neto hamstring injury is 'not severe'

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O'Neil is hopeful that the hamstring injury sustained by Pedro Neto against Newcastle United is 'not severe'.

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O'Neil is hopeful that Pedro Neto did not suffer a long-term hamstring injury against Newcastle United.

On Saturday night, Wolves twice came from behind to earn a deserved 2-2 draw against the Magpies in an entertaining Premier League encounter at Molineux.

However, at a time when the home side were in the ascendancy and chasing a third goal, Neto pulled up sharply with a clear hamstring injury, one which led to him being stretchered off.

With the Portugal international visibly distraught, there are fears that the in-form winger will be sidelined in the long term, rather than just weeks.

That will not be determined until next week when the issue settles down and is assessed, but O'Neil hinted that he remained optimistic when addressing the media after the match.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Pedro Neto in action with Newcastle United's Dan Burn on October 28, 2023 © Reuters

Speaking to reporters, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail, the Englishman said: "He's moving around. Obviously hamstring injuries have very different levels of severity, so we're hoping it's on the smaller side.

"Hodgey (Joe Hodge) had a similar one in the cup game and wasn't out too long, so we're hopeful that Pedro won't be missing for long.

"He's been a big part of what we've managed to do so far, but for however long he's out for, the group is ready to make sure we keep producing performances and we keep picking up points."

Earlier in the contest, the 23-year-old had provided his seventh assist of the Premier League campaign from just 10 starts, the highest in England's top flight.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Pedro Neto celebrates scoring their first goal on September 21, 2023 © Reuters

Neto has also been an ever-present in the Wolves starting lineup, but he now faces the prospect of missing a number of matches.

Before the international break, Wolves travel to Sheffield United on November 4 ahead of playing host to league leaders Tottenham Hotspur on November 11.

There is then a 16-day gap until the trip to face Fulham in London on November 27, before a second trip to the capital in the same week to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on December 2.

In his place, O'Neil has the option of moving Matheus Cunha out wide and deploying Fabio Silva or Sasa Kalajdzic down the middle, or using Pablo Sarabia as a direct alternative.