CROCK OF OLD GOLD
Injury list is worst Nuno has experienced, but he says it’s no excuse for poor season
WOLVES v SHEFF UNITED Molineux: 8.15pm
BY DAVE ARMITAGE
WOLVES boss Nuno Espirito Santo is keeping a brave face despite a mounting injury list.
The Molineux gaffer, whose side lie in the bottom half of the Premier League table after finishing seventh last term, says he has never known a treatment room so busy. But he will not use the injury crisis as an excuse for a disappointing campaign.
Pedro Neto and Jonny have both undergone knee surgery this week and look set to be out for six months while main striker Raul Jimenez is still recovering from surgery on his fractured skull.
The Mexican international (right) hasn’t played since a clash of heads with Arsenal’s David Luiz back in November.
Jimenez is back training with the first team but is still having to avoid contact and heading until allowed by medical staff.
Nuno said: “I’ve not known as many in a season in my career. The injuries have affected everybody because we love each other here.
“We want to enjoy our time here and, when a player is injured, there’s a sadness and frustration about it.
“But you bounce back and you work hard to show those players that you are waiting for them to return.”
Wolves entertain doomed Sheffield United at Molineux tonight with Nuno (top) promising to give the visitors the same kind of respect he would give table-topping Manchester City. “We don’t differentiate between teams at the top of the table and those at the the bottom,” he said. “There’s no difference in our eyes. They are a good team and they have shown that over the last two seasons.
“One thing I do know about them is that the character and determination is there. They’ve had a difficult season but the character of that bunch of players isn’t in question and we’re expecting a very tough match.”