Wolves notebook: Lopetegui makes key appointment, Neto latest & Joao Gomes transfer stance

Alex Dicken has penned his Wolves notebook featuring a new club doctor, the latest on Pedro Neto's injury and Joao Gomes' potential transfer

Alex Dicken Senior Football Writer

11:32, 23 Jan 2023

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui was instrumental in the appointment of Franchek Drobnic

Wolverhampton Wanderers have appointed Dr Franchek Drobnic as their new club doctor on the recommendation of Julen Lopetegui, BirminghamLive can reveal.

Drobnic replaces Dr Rob Chakraverty, who left Wolves towards the end of November as Lopetegui began his behind-the-scenes restructure. Lopetegui has transformed Wolves’ technical and fitness staff at Compton since agreeing to become head coach.

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The vastly experienced Drobnic has been appointed medical chief by Wolves and will oversee the club's physios, doctors and medical team. He previously spent 17 years working with La Liga powerhouse Barcelona and headed up the medical department of Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.

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READ: Wolves transfer need reinforced as Julen Lopetegui lands two-week mission

READ: Julen Lopetegui explains Diego Costa snub after Wolves lose to Man City

Drobnic and those working underneath him at Compton have been set the task of improving Wolves’ injury record. After boasting a 99 percent availability rate at one stage under Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolves’ first team has been ravaged by injuries in the last few years.

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Lopetegui is currently without four players due to long-term injuries in Chiquinho, Sasa Kalajdzic, Boubacar Traore and Pedro Neto. Drobnic’s appointment has brought a change of tact, Lopetegui is hoping it brings a less busy treatment room in the long-term.

Neto injury latest

Neto is expected to return the soonest of the aforementioned quartet. The Portuguese winger suffered an ankle injury during Wolves’ 2-0 defeat to West Ham on October 1 and underwent surgery.

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He is still working individually with one of Wolves’ fitness coaches, but the hope is for Neto to return to training in February. “We are waiting for him,” said Lopetegui. “The most important thing is when he comes back on the pitch. For now, he is working alone in the gym. When he starts working with us I don’t know how much time he is going to need.

“He has been out for three or four months so we have to be patient with him. (We want him back) as soon as possible because he is a fantastic player.”

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Wolves await Joao Gomes phone call

Wolves are waiting to see whether Flamengo return to the negotiating table over Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes. The deal for Gomes, 21, has developed into a saga since Lyon gazumped Wolves last week.

Wolves agreed to pay Flamengo €17million to sign Gomes and the player was all set to jet in to England to complete his transfer. Lyon offered marginally more money to Flamengo and the Brazilian club have since hung up the phone on Wolves.

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Gomes is insistent on moving to the Premier League, so Wolves hope that their original deal with Flamengo will still be honoured. But Wolves transfer chiefs are reluctant to pander to Flamengo and are willing to wait patiently for talks to be reignited.

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