OLD BOYS CLASS ABOVE FOR GARY

GARY O’NEIL has said he would have kept old boys Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore if he could.

The Wolves boss comes face-toface tomorrow night with two of the stars that helped cement the club’s spot back in the big time.

The duo are fondly regarded at Molineux after successful spells with the club under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Jimenez was the darling of the South Bank as he knocked in goals while speedster Traore added the X factor by terrorising defences.

But when O’neil was appointed in early August the former had already agreed to join the Cottagers – and the latter was about to follow suit.

The new manager (below) said – given the choice – he would liked to have worked with them.

“It’s a tough one to answer as to whether I’d rather have had them here,” he said. “They’re both two fantastic players and if you offer me two fantastic players then I’m inclined to say, ‘Yes, we’ll take those’.

“But it’s not how the game works – it’s not Championship Manager on a computer where you can just press a button and sign a couple of players, so there’s a lot of ifs and buts in there.

“I’ve got huge respect for both of them and what they achieved.

“I remember facing Traore last season when I was Bournemouth manager and he was just a constant, huge threat.

“And I remember watching Raul and some of the goals he scored in the last three or four years for this club and what a talent he was.

“I’m glad they’re happy and settled at Fulham and hopefully they can have a successful season – after they’ve played us on Monday.”

O’neil is hoping some inside knowledge will help his side come away from Craven Cottage with all three points. “The lads know them quite well so they know their strengths and what they are liable to do,” he added. “Hopefully we come up with a plan that keeps us nice and secure.”