Wolves winger Pedro will miss the World Cup through injury after The Athletic reporter Steve Madeley shared a statement from the club confirming the news.

The Lowdown: Neto's injury woes

The Portuguese forward has been plagued by injury problems in recent years, curtailing his progress just as he is looking to reach another level in his career.

Neto has started eight Premier League matches so far this season, but he suffered a serious ankle problem in the 2-0 defeat at West Ham last weekend.

The hope was that the 22-year-old's absence wouldn't be too prolonged, but it has since emerged that the opposite rings true.

The Latest: Wolves confirm Neto injury

In a statement relayed on Wolves' official website, club medics confirmed: "Pedro sustained an ankle injury against West Ham on Saturday where he strained the lateral ligaments.

"Following further evaluation and a specialist opinion this week, it is planned for him to undergo surgery. This means that, unfortunately, he will not be fit for the upcoming World Cup."

Taking to Twitter in sharing his report for The Athletic on that huge body blow, Madeley weighed in with his succinct verdict on the 22-year-old's woes, saying:

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The Verdict: Such cruel luck

This is an enormous blow for both Wolves and Neto, with the winger such a key player at Molineux (having played the fifth-most league minutes of anyone at the club so far this term) and a footballer of such immense long-term promise.

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For the player himself, it is even more upsetting, not only seeing him miss a big chunk of Premier League action but also depriving him of a chance of representing his country at a World Cup.

It is such cruel luck for Neto, who not for the first time has been left cursing a long-term injury, but he will hopefully enjoy an setback-free spell in Wolves' team upon his eventual return to action.