Former Wolves Women star Claire Hakeman believes Pedro Neto was looking as sharp as she has seen him, during Tuesday night’s game with FC Porto.
Wanderers ran out 1-0 winners against the Portuguese giants.
It was a useful exercise for the players, with Julen Lopetegui able to get another good look at his squad.
There was also a debut for new signing Matt Doherty, who came on at half-time for Nelson Semedo.
Lopetegui’s starting XI was perhaps the team that he will be fielding on the opening day of the season against Manchester United.
It was a pretty strong lineup, with Joe Hodge perhaps the only player who may drop out against the Red Devils next month.
It was Neto who scored the game’s only goal – and he impressed Hakeman.
Pedro Neto looked sharp, but Craig Dawson rusty – Claire Hakeman
Former Wolves Women star Claire Hakeman has given her thoughts about the contest on Tuesday.
She liked what she saw from Neto, who recently had some good displays for his country at the U21s Euros.
Speaking on the Wolves Weekly podcast, she said: “I think the goal was fantastic. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come in terms of the fact that Neto looked as sharp as I’ve seen.
“Obviously he’s had a bit of an extended pre-season with the Portugal U21s squad as well. Neto nicked the ball, won it back, really good tenacity, (Pablo) Sarabia good feet from him… and then (Matheus) Nunes back across the box and into Neto. It was a really good all-round team goal.”
Hakeman also noted that one Wolves player was looking a little sluggish.
“Defensively we looked a little bit wobbly at times,” she added. “But I think that’s what you expect to see in pre-season. I think (Craig) Dawson looked a little bit rusty in points. But it’s tough and Porto were really competitive.”
Pedro Neto has been here before for Wolves
Wolves fans will be pleased to hear that Neto is looking sharp at the moment.
Wanderers seriously need him to rediscover the form he was showing before his injury problems.
This time last year, Neto, 23, was looking really good in pre-season.
He was arguably Wolves’ best performer in the weeks leading up to the 2022/23 season. Everyone thought the Neto of old was ready to make a comeback.
But when the campaign commenced, Neto was perhaps Wolves’ worst player in the opening weeks. He just couldn’t find form at all, and he regularly cut a frustrated figure, before he then sustained that serious ankle injury in October.
Hopefully this time around, Neto can hit the ground running straight away after pre-season.