WEARY WOLVES HOPING FOR COMPASSIONATE LEAGUE

NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO believes the Premier League will give Wolves a breather before next season as they prepare for their 58th match of a marathon campaign. Wolves face Olympiacos in the Europa League tonight knowing a goalless draw would be enough to send them into the quarter-finals, to be staged across four German cities on Monday and Tuesday. Nuno’s men reported for pre-season training on June 27 last year and their first game was against Northern Irish club Crusaders in the Europa

League’s second qualifying round on July 25. The three-month suspension for coronavirus means their season has entered its 54th week. Wolves are set to be given at least a 30-day break between their final European game and their first match of 2020-21. And Nuno said: ‘I’m sure they will look at it and adjust the schedule. I’m hopeful the Premier League will allow the teams involved a little bit more time. We know we have a tight schedule next season and they must be aware of the health of the players and must take care of them. ‘The Premier League should acknowledge the teams involved in Europe, depending on how far they go, as the players require more time to recover. We are going to play in August and we’re going to start playing again in September. ‘No team will be able to give too much time for the players to recover. It’s why we’re approaching it as a continuation of what we’ve been doing so we’re prepared to start again.’ Nuno believes his players will need at least three weeks off to recharge batteries before beginning a pre-season campaign, but under the current plans that may not be possible. If Wolves reach the Europa League final, scheduled for August 21, they would have to resume domestic duty on September 20 — eight days after the official start date for the next Premier League campaign. ‘There is not the time for a proper recovery,’ he said. ‘It’s important from a mental point of view to disconnect to regain the motivation for a new cycle. ‘If you look at previous years, even players who were involved in national teams had three weeks, but let’s wait and see what’s possible.’

WOLVES (3-4-3, probable): Rui Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Jonny; Traore, Jimenez, Podence.