Gary O’Neil shares how Wolves players reacted as Matheus Cunha returned to training

Gary O’Neil has shared how the Wolves players reacted following Matheus Cunha’s return to training this week.

Matheus Cunha has been out of action for Wolves since pulling his hamstring in the 2-0 defeat against Brentford last month.

The Brazilian had enjoyed an excellent season up to that point and was transformed under the guidance of Gary O’Neil.

After scoring just twice in 17 Premier League matches last term, many questioned the decision to sign him permanently for £44 million from Atletico Madrid.

It appears, though, that all it took for him to become revered by the Molineux faithful was belief shown in him by O’Neil, and he’s returned that faith by netting 11 goals in all competitions this season.

Cunha has missed their last five matches through injury and despite winning four of them, his return to the squad is timely.

Wolves are missing key attacking players, including Pedro Neto, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Hwang Hee-Chan.

Luckily, O’Neil said in his pre-match press conference that Cunha is “looking good”, so that could hint at him featuring against Coventry City tomorrow afternoon.

With hope of the 24-year-old playing some part in the FA Cup quarter-final, the Wolves boss has also revealed how the Wolves players reacted to his return.

Wolves players are ‘happy’ Matheus Cunha is back

O’Neil has revealed that the Wolves players are all happy to see the Brazilian back in the squad and that isn’t surprising given the monumental impact he’s made this term.

“He’s done really well, incredibly well. He’s in a great mood, obviously,” O’Neil told the Wolves official website. “The lads are pleased to have him back in and around them. An unbelievable effort from him to get back in full training with the lads as quickly as he has. It’s now on us to manage him the best way we can and when we think we can get the best out of him.

“We were expecting to be without him a lot longer than we have been, so delighted to have him back in training and it’s given the group a good lift.”

A huge lift at a crucial time

To get Cunha back at this stage of the season when O’Neil was expecting him to be out for much longer is a huge lift, and it’s already had an impact on the players.

Clearly, the Brazilian is a key figure on and off the pitch and during the time he’s been sidelined, he wouldn’t have been spending as much with his teammates.

Now he’s returned to the squad and is back training, O’Neil will be confident that he can rediscover his purple patch of form.

In his five league matches before getting injured, Cunha plundered four goals and supplied three assists.

He was simply in breathtaking form, so it is no surprise that the players have clamoured over his return to full fitness as he looks to play an important role in the closing stages.

Wolves are still just two points off seventh place West Ham and given it looks as though England will get an extra Champions League place, the Wanderers could finish in eighth and still get Europe.