Wolves injury update before Aston Villa with midfielder 'on crutches' and two doubts
Aston Villa welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Villa Park on Saturday and Gary O'Neil has one or two injury concerns
by Joseph Chapman, https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/authors/joseph-chapman/ · Birmingham LiveWolverhampton Wanderers head to Aston Villa this weekend with a couple of players yet to be either confirmed as available or definitively ruled out by manager Gary O'Neil. Wolves lost 3-2 to Brighton and Hove Albion in the third round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night and venture across the West Midlands to Villa Park hunting their first league win of the new season.
O'Neil will certainly be without Boubacar Traore. The Malian midfielder was forced off in the EFL Cup second round win over Burnley at Molineux and has consequently had surgery on his left knee. Head of high performance Phil Hayward said: “Boubacar suffered an injury to his left knee during the match on Wednesday night.
“The scans have shown damage to the lateral meniscus which will require surgery. This will take place in the coming week. It is difficult to predict the exact timescales at this stage, and we will know more once Boubacar has surgery.”
READ: Villa starting XI vs Wolves predicted as Emery faces two big decisions
READ: Ex- Rangers chief makes astonishing Gerrard to Villa claim in scathing attack
O'Neil has now confirmed that Traore is on crutches and is expected to be out until at least Christmas. He will also have to wait and see how the land lies with a couple of his senior defensive options ahead of the Villa clash.
Toti Gomes, Rayan Ait-Nouri and summer signing Bastien Meupiyou all missed the trip to Brighton in the week and O'Neil, particularly with the former pair, who haven't trained regularly as normal this week, is cautious as to their availability. Late calls are set to be made on both players.