Major blow: Wolves dealt "significant" injury setback that may have big consequences - opinion

Wolverhampton Wanderers right-wing-back Nelson Semedo could face a longer spell on the sidelines than originally feared after the Portugal international picked up a hamstring injury in Wolves’ 2-1 defeat away at Arsenal last month.

According to injury expert Ben Dinnery, the 28-year-old may be unavailable for selection until mid to late April as he continues rehabilitation.

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery said: “My understanding is that it will probably be slightly longer. It is extremely optimistic to expect a return to play within that month. I would expect that it’s more likely to be mid to late April, in all honesty.

“I presume that Bruno Lage was maybe hoping for a return after the international break. It might well have been a case of wishful thinking. But my understanding is that it will more likely be around the six to eight-week mark, so it’s a significant setback.”

With Wolves still within a good shout of finishing in a European place, manager Bruno Lage will be desperate to have every one of his players available, with Semedo’s absence a harsh blow.

The right-wing-back has played in 23 of the Wanderers’ 28 league matches this term and is a major asset for Lage’s squad.

Having joined from Barcelona in September 2020 for a fee believed to be around £37m, the Portuguese has been vital for Wolves, racking up 61 appearances already.

Lage’s side have been rightly applauded all season for their solidity at the back with the West Midlands outfit the top-flight’s fourth-best defenders, having conceded just 23 goals in 28 games. Semedo has proven to be a major contributor to that feat.

What makes the predicament even more frustrating is the fact that reserve right-wing-back Ki-Jana Hoever is also sidelined with a