Wolves have seen a host of their players raise their performance level under Gary O’Neil this season however, there is one thing holding Pedro Neto back.
Wolves are enjoying a successful season thanks to Gary O’Neil, who has defied the odds at Molineux.
The manager arrived at a chaotic time after the lows of the summer of 2023, raising the bar in the squad to see the Old Gold sitting comfortably in the top half of the table.
Better than that, Wolves are still in contention to secure a place in Europe next season, with 10 games left to play in the Premier League to determine their chances of qualifying for the Europa Conference League.
From European dreams to being comfortable in the top flight, O’Neil will be relieved to have boosted the quality of performance at Molineux amid concerns over squad depth.
Lots of the manager’s success would not have been possible without the progression of some of Wolves’ star players, with Pedro Neto being one.
Pedro Neto has been incredible this season when available for Wolves
This season, the Old Gold have had the joy of watching Neto hitting his full potential, thriving whenever in action for O’Neil’s side.
The right-winger started the season incredibly strong, recording eight goal contributions in the opening 10 games of the Premier League season.
From being a continual threat on the wing to being a keen creator as he continued to assist his teammates, it seemed as though Wolves were finally seeing the best version of the Portugese ace until he was struck by a familiar issue.
The problem that is holding Pedro Neto back
Injury has plagued Neto’s career at Wolves, seeing him fail to record more than 20 appearances over the previous three Premier League seasons.
This term, the 24-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the campaign, not helped by him falling to the same injury this year, which could see him miss the remainder of the 2023/24 calendar.
Speaking on The Keen & Judah Show, journalist Nathan Judah outlined just how much of an issue Neto’s injury record has become for the player.
“He’s been absolutely sensational, some of the performances this season have been breathtaking, he was back to his very very best form after having a full pre-season under his belt and it was superb.”
“He was the key to unlocking any defence, he is not just one of the best right-wing forwards at Wolves, he is one of the best right-wing forwards for me, behind Mohamed Salah and not many others in the country when he’s fit, but he’s not.”
Putting the 2000-born dynamo in the same conversation with a Premier League great as illusive as Mohamed Salah is a huge statement from Judah however, those who watch Neto in action will know just how good he can be.
Given the Portugal international’s start to the season, it seemed as though the winger could have gone on to secure somewhere in the region of 20+ goal contributions, instead, the 24-year-old has been unable to secure 20 appearances.
It’s a devastating recurrence for Neto, who is more than capable of becoming one of Europe’s best however, his inability to get a full season under his belt is where he falls agonisingly short of his peers.
With talk surrounding his future circulating Molineux ahead of the summer, many will hope that we haven’t seen the last of Neto in a Wolves shirt.