Wolves star Pedro Neto returns after 10 months out from a rare injury

Pedro Neto has lifted the lid on his nightmare year after making his first appearance for 10 months due to a serious knee injury.

The Wolves star was his club’s best player last season until his campaign was cut short when he damaged his kneecap in the win at Fulham last April.

The 21-year-old was originally due to be sidelined for six months but suffered a setback with his recovery, meaning his comeback was delayed until Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Leicester, when he replaced Daniel Podence for the final nine minutes. 

‘It was difficult, I will be honest,’ said Neto, whose injury also meant he missed out on a place in Portugal’s squad for Euro 2020. 'Sometimes we think nothing will happen to us.

‘Only when they do happen do we put our feet on the earth and realise we have a long way to go. It was a shock and a rare injury for a footballer. I had difficult times in these 10 months, I worked very hard but now I’m back and I’m very happy.

‘When I was going well with the recovery, I had a setback. The day that happened I just thought "OK, I have one more challenge that I have to go through."

‘I have to get more game time, because training is not the same as playing, but I am really confident in what I can do.

‘I am really confident that with time I will be arrive at my full form and I will be better than I was before.’

Neto was valued at about £50million before his injury and if he can recapture top form quickly, he will provide a huge boost to boss Bruno Lage is his bid to secure European football for Wolves next season.

Lage has made an excellent start to his career at Molineux and Neto has been impressed by the work of his countryman, who replaced Nuno Espirito Santo last summer.

Neto added: ‘He gives a lot of confidence