Wolves’ Injury Update: Gary O’Neil’s Squad Faces Setback Ahead of Newcastle United Clash
Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) have received some unfortunate news as they prepare for their upcoming match against Newcastle United. Midfielder Joe Hodge will be absent from the game on Saturday evening due to an injury. In a pre-match press conference, Wolves manager Gary O’Neil shared this setback and also provided an update on Jean Bellegarde’s fitness. O’Neil indicated that it’s unlikely Bellegarde will start this weekend as he hasn’t had a full week of training.
Regarding Hodge’s situation, O’Neil explained, “Hodgey has undergone shoulder surgery. He’s been dealing with this issue for a while, as his shoulder has been dislocating during training sessions in recent weeks, causing disruptions. We decided to address it with surgery, and hopefully, this will help improve his condition. Unfortunately, he’ll be sidelined for a while.”
Speaking about Bellegarde, O’Neil mentioned, “Jean Bellegarde is making progress, and we’ll assess his condition tomorrow morning. However, due to his limited training time this week, it’s unlikely that he will play the full 90 minutes.”
Wolves are set to face Newcastle United a week after their victory over Bournemouth, where O’Neil used to be in charge. The Magpies, on the other hand, are coming into this game following a defeat to Borussia Dortmund in their recent match. Despite their recent loss, Eddie Howe’s team has gone unbeaten in their last six Premier League games and secured a comfortable win against Crystal Palace last weekend.
O’Neil, who led Bournemouth to two 1-1 draws against Newcastle United in the previous season, recognizes that his team faces a significant challenge on Saturday. He has encouraged his squad to maintain an aggressive style of play. O’Neil stated, “Our approach to this game is similar to most matches. We aim to be aggressive when it suits us, maintain good ball control, and pose a threat. Newcastle possesses several key strengths, notably their energy and mentality. They have built momentum recently, making them a formidable opponent. It’s a substantial test for us, and we’re eager to see how far we’ve progressed and how we’ll fare against them tomorrow.”
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