Wolverhampton Wanderers FC say their Portuguese forward Pedro Neto will miss the 2022 World Cup finals due to injury.
Neto suffered the injury in their 2-0 defeat by West Ham United on Saturday, 1 October. The club says he now needs an operation.
The EPL club said that Neto strained his ligaments.
“Following further evaluation and a specialist opinion this week, it is planned for him to undergo surgery,” the club added”.
The 22-year-old has made three appearances for Portugal. While he was in their squad for recent Nations League games against the Czech Republic and Spain, he didn’t play in either.
The World Cup will take place from 20 November to 18 December in Qatar.
Wolves are without a manager following Sunday’s sacking of Bruno Lage and Neto’s absence further diminishes their already-depleted attacking options.
Under-18 and under-21 bosses Steve Davis and James Collins will take charge of the team this weekend and Davis said:
He’s had so much bad luck already with previous injuries.
“We’re all devastated from him as a group. He’s got good support around him so we will look after him and make sure he comes back stronger.
Steve Davis
Raul Jimenez and Hwang Hee-chan are both sidelined with injuries. Summer signing Sasa Kalajdzic suffered a long-term knee injury on his debut.
Free-transfer signing Diego Costa is fit. Goncalo Guedes who made a summer move from Valencia for £27.5m is also fit. But both players, the only recognisable strikers who are fit to play haven’t scored a single goal in eight games.
