Wolves’ Jhon Arias was a surprising exclusion from the list of Old Gold players heading away on international duty.
Arias has been a key player for the Colombian national team over the last few years, and fans of Los Cafeteros were confused by his omission.
The winger’s time at Molineux has not exactly been smooth. The 28-year-old has struggled to adapt to the intensity of English football.
Arias’ poor form had linked him with a move back to the Brazilian Serie A, but after recently joining Wolves, that does not seem likely.
However, Colombian manager Nestor Lorenzo has now confirmed the reason he left the player out of his squad, and it will be great news for Wolves fans.
Colombia manager confirms reason Jhon Arias was left out of squad
When Jhon Arias was not named among the players in the Colombian squad, it was no doubt a major surprise.
Reports said that Arias was left shocked and that the federation had made the decision for the benefit of the player who is still learning to play in a new league.
Nestor Lorenzo has now confirmed those reports, saying he left Arias out of his squad due to the player still needing to find his feet in England.
Lorenzo, via AS Colombia, said, “Jhon Arias is adapting to his new club, to the Premier League. It’s a difficult league, and it’s a team that needs him at 100 per cent, and I explained that to him. He’ll probably be back in November.”
While it is disappointing for the player, it is great news for Wolves. Arias has been playing non-stop football for the last nine months, and a short break from the high intensity of matches could be a well-needed rest.
His time with Fluminense at the Club World Cup, followed by his move to Wolves, meant he has had no break from the sport since February.
The exclusion from international duty can help the player get back to his best, and that is something Wolves need desperately.
Wolves need Jhon Arias at his best
Jhon Arias has been showing glimpses of his quality, and with the player being at the club for just over two months, he needs to start performing consistently.
The lack of quality up front has been a major issue for the Old Gold this season.
After seven games, they are joint-last for goals scored, having hit the net five times, with Nottingham Forest sharing the unwanted accolade.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 15 |  LeedsLeeds | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 8 |
| 16 |  BrentfordBrentford | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 7 |
| 17 |  Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 5 |
| 18 |  BurnleyBurnley | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 4 |
| 19 |  West HamWest Ham | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | -10 | 4 |
| 20 |  WolvesWolves | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 2 |
The time away from international duty will give Vitor Pereira extra time to work closer with Arias, and perhaps when domestic football returns for Wolves’ trip to Sunderland, the Colombian will be firing on all cylinders.
That will certainly be the hope.