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Nuno praying Wolves stars make safe return from international duty

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is keeping his fingers crossed all 10 players away on international duty come back fit and firing.

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Sensational strike pair Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez are two of the group representing their countries, Portugal and Mexico, respectively.

Nuno is a little concerned that some of them will not be returning to Compton until next Wednesday – just three days before Wolves’ next Premier League game, the trip to Burnley – but said on Jota’s first senior call-up and the rest going away: “Well deserved.

"He’s been working really, really good, and to go to the national team is a reward.

"Representing your country, playing for your country, is the strongest thing there is. We have 10 players that go to national teams now, 10 players!

"What I wish is that they go and play, play good, and come back healthy.”

Also in the Portugal squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Ukraine and Serbia are midfielders Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho, and goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

Wing-back Matt Doherty is being reunited with former Wolves boss Mick McCarthy – the man who brought him to Molineux in 2010 – in the Ireland set-up.

Utility men Leander Dendoncker and Romain Saiss are away with Belgium and Morocco respectively.

Teenage talents Morgan Gibbs-White and Ruben Vinagre are with England Under-19s and Portugal Under-20s respectively.

And Nuno insists those who are not on international duty will be putting in plenty of hard work, as ever, over at Compton.

“Of course, like we do with everything,” said the Wolves chief. “Now is the moment and we have to prepare.

It allows us time... the under-23s. There’s a lot of work now.

“What worries me more is that we have players coming back on the 27th.

“It’s tough, but when you have good players, they go to national teams.”

Meanwhile, Wolves’ Premier League clash with Arsenal at Molineux has been moved to Wednesday, April 24 (7.45pm).