Wolves have been dealt a blow on the injury front as Gary O’Neil has shared an update on Matheus Cunha.
Wolves’ pre-season festivities are well underway, as the Old Gold prepare for the second game of their United States tour on Thursday.
In the opener, Gary O’Neil watched his side beat West Ham 3-1 where several stars shone bright however, it wasn’t all good news.
During the fixture, Wolves star Matheus Cunha was withdrawn early due to injury, with an update on his fitness now provided.
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Matheus Cunha will not play for Wolves for the rest of the US pre-season tour
Speaking to Express and Star journalist’s Liam Keen and Nathan Judah on the E&S Wolves podcast, O’Neil confirmed that Cunha sustained a hamstring injury.
“Cunha felt a slight pain low down in his hamstring, he’s had a scan and the damage isn’t big. It’s only a small bit of damage, but it is in an area where it can reoccur, so we do have to manage it carefully.
“I don’t envisage him being out long. He won’t play again on this trip because there’s no need to risk him.
“But once we get home and things start to settle, I don’t envisage it being too long.
“It’s annoying, obviously, because it’s in a part of the season where you feel like you’re in control of most things.”
Taking to X to break the news, Keen admitted that ‘O’Neil is hopeful’ that the injury isn’t serious, as the manager shared his frustration at Cunha’s absence.
“It’s so frustrating because he was in such a good place, but he’ll be fine.
“When you’re the manager and you lose one of your best players, it’s always a disaster, but we are better equipped with the attacking players we have.
“We’ll be fine and keep working, and then when Matheus comes back he’ll make us stronger again.”
When Cunha will return after suffering hamstring injury
It’s devastating news as the Brazilian had made a strong start to pre-season after impressing in the 2023/24 campaign.
Fortunately, the injury has come at this stage of the summer rather than closer to the start of the Premier League season, which O’Neil expects Cunha to be fit for.
“I wouldn’t see him as a doubt for the start of the season, I’m confident he’ll be out there against Arsenal.
“You can be wrong with these things, but at the moment I’m not concerned for Arsenal.”
The Midlands club will face a battle at the Emirates on the opening day, with there hope that Cunha will be available and ready to test Mikel Arteta’s side but for now, a spell on the sidelines is due.