After coming off the bench in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ back-to-back Premier League wins, Adama Traore will be targeting a recall against Aston Villa.
Wolves winger Francisco Trincao had to withdraw from the Portugal squad for their October international games after he tested positive for Covid-19.
The 21-year-old had been called into the squad after Rafa Silva and Domingos Duarte dropped out due to injury. But after contracting the virus, the Barcelona loanee had to drop out as well.
Wolves’ number 11 has had to isolate for 10 days which means he is likely to miss the first game after the international break away to Villa.
That will probably mean that Traore is competing against Daniel Podence for a starting berth against his former club.
Recall for Traore
After being omitted from Luis Enrique’s Spain squad, we analysed yesterday about the concerns Traore being overlooked could bring.
Although the pacey winger is in talks over a new contract, the Athletic reported at the weekend that Spurs will try again to sign a new forward player in the January window with Traore again on Nuno Espirito Santo’s radar.
With uncertainty surrounding club and country game time, Traore needs to focus on performing on the pitch and coming to a resolution about his future.
The Spain international is yet to start a game alongside Raul Jimenez and Hee-Chan Hwang.
Traore has the quality to make Wolves’ dynamic duo into a terrifying trio.
With Bruno Lage wanting Jimenez to drop in between the lines to pick up possession and pull defenders out of position, it gives Hwang as shown against Newcastle the space to punish defences, by running in behind from the left touchline.
If Traore could replicate that blossoming partnership between the Mexican and South Korean on the right, Lage’s attack could become devastating, especially if we win the ball back high up the pitch or hit teams on the counter attack.
Being back at Villa Park where a £7m (BBC Sport) move from Barcelona didn’t work out could be the perfect distraction for Traore to focus on his football and ignite a partnership with Hwang and Jimenez.