Pedro Neto puts 32 month injury hell behind him with a stunning strike in Wolves’ 1-1 draw with Luton
- Pedro Neto scored Wolves’ only goal on Saturday as they drew 1-1 with Luton
- It comes after a set of knee injuries that saw him play just six games last season
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off!
Pedro Neto looks poised to regain the form that made him one of the Premier League’s most exciting prospects and solve Wolves’ attacking woes in the process.
The Portuguese forward has suffered two significant knee injuries in the last two-and-a-half years, which put the brakes on a journey that seemed certain to take him to one of Europe’s top clubs.
Yet Neto’s spectacular strike in Wolves’ 1-1 draw at Luton was his fifth goal involvement this term. He also has four assists and has created four big chances.
Boss Gary O’Neil said: ‘When I arrived I didn’t know too much about him and I was told that maybe he wasn’t reaching the levels the club would expect of him.
‘We are only six games into the league season but he has fully bought into everything we’ve asked – the way he trains, plays within the shape and takes information on board. He is incredibly talented and physically very gifted as well.
Pedro Neto scored a stunning goal on Saturday as Wolves drew 1-1 with Luton
It comes after a frustrating run of knee injuries that meant he played just six games last season
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‘Can he add more goals? Probably, especially when he plays on the right and can come inside on his left foot. He has been absolutely incredible during my time here.’
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde faces possible disciplinary action from the club after receiving a straight red card for kicking out at Tom Lockyer in the first half – in only his second game for Wolves.
After Neto’s strike, Carlton Morris’ penalty earned Luton their first point of the season. But Wolves were furious with the award, for handball against Joao Gomes.
Boss Rob Edwards said: ‘Everyone can stop talking about Luton being the only team not to have any points. We’ve got that off our backs.
‘We were a small club in the Championship and we got promoted so we are going to be a small club in the Premier League.
‘We are going up against mammoths, giant clubs. We probably shouldn’t be here. But we are allowed to learn and I am pleased with the progress we are making.’
Gary O’Neil said Neto had been ‘incredible’ but admitted he ‘could add more goals’
MATCH FACTS
Luton Town (4-4-2): Kaminski 6; Kabore 7 (Adebayo 85), Burke 7, Lockyer 5, Bell 7.5; Brown 7.5 (Woodrow 73, 6), Sambi Lokonga 7 (Ruddock-Mpanzu 57, 6), Nakamba 7.5, Doughty 8 (Giles 72, 6); Morris 7, Ogbene 7.5.
Subs not used: Krul, Andersen, Berry, Chong, Mengi.
Scorers: Morris 66 (pen)
Manager: Rob Edwards 7.5
Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-2-3-1): Sa 6.5; Semedo 5.5 (Bueno 84), Dawson 6, Kilman 7, Ait-Nouri 4 (Toti 46, 6); Lemina 6.5, Gomes 5.5 (Doyle 90); Neto 7, Bellegarde 4, Hwang 4 (Doherty 46, 5); Cunha 4.5 (Traore 71, 6). Subs not used: Bentley, Silva, Kalajdzic, Sarabia.
Scorers: Neto 50
Sent off: Bellegarde 38
Booked: Gomes
Manager: Gary O’Neil 6
Referee: Josh Smith 6
Attendance: 10,893
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