Wolves winger Pedro Neto could make his long-awaited injury return at some point in January, according to manager Bruno Lage.

The Lowdown: Neto missing for months

The young Portuguese star hasn't featured at all yet this season, as he continues to recover from a fractured kneecap suffered back in April.

Neto had arguably been Wolves' standout player in the 2020/21 campaign prior to that setback, scoring five goals and registering six assists in the Premier League.

It appears as though his return is edging closer all the time, however, acting as a boost for all concerned.

The Latest: Lage gives injury update

Speaking in his pre-Everton press conference on Friday [via The Athletic], Lage confirmed that he expects Neto to return to first-team action in mid-January, after undergoing his own pre-season schedule:

"The good news is everything is OK with his injury. Now he will start to work harder than he has.

"I think maybe he'll start with the team in one more month. After he'll need to do a normal pre-season, for two or three weeks, to work and be fit to play in this competition.

"Maybe in the middle of January we'll have him in the stadium to start to play with us. He can work harder now, this is the good news."

The Verdict: Play the long game

Any Wolves fan is going to be desperate to see Neto back on the pitch as soon as possible, but it is vital that the club handle him with care.

Rushing him back too soon could end up having dire consequences further down the line, so an element of caution is required with a player so young and full of potential.

Having Neto back from injury will feel like an almighty boost, though - pundit Adrian Clarke has described him as 'brilliant' - adding quality and goal threat to a team who are already thriving at the moment, grabbing ten points from their last four games.

In other news, Tim Spiers has delivered a key Wolves injury update. Read more here.