VIDEO: Nouha Dicko retaining his perspective on life

Nouha Dicko is still smiling. The popular Wolves striker might be likely to miss out on the rest of the current season with a serious knee injury, and having to watch frustrated from the sidelines as his team matches struggle for goals.

But the 23-year-old is staying positive – and making good progress.

"The physios are really happy with how things are going, so I'm happy too," the Mali international said.

"It's pretty had to be injured. Everyone has helped me, the club, my family and friends. It's hard but people are helping me.

"It feels good to feel that you are progressing well. After the surgery I was in a lot of pain, it was quite a big surgery. Now I can do more and more things."

Dicko is in the gym day after day working on strengthening his knee, with specific treatments and movements designed to improve his knee joints and his hamstrings.

Soon he can start running on an anti-gravity treadmill, then eventually on grass, before he can start planning a return to action later next year.

"I've no choice, if I want to be playing I have to go through this hard process," he said of his painstaking recovery.

"I'm confident because I'm in good hands, we have great physios here.

"I want to be back playing in good shape and everything will be alright when I play. The goals will come, I'm sure."

Head of medical Phil Hayward praised Dicko for his positive attitude.

He said: "When you find out you're out go a period of time – obviously Nouha's out for nine months or so – it is quite difficult psychologically.

"But he's been excellent, he's not been down at all, he's been very positive about things, and taking each day at a time and looking at the small gains."

Dicko scored 13 goals in the second half of the League One title triumph, and followed that up with another 15 in the Championship last season.

Kenny Jackett recently spoke of the difficulty in replacing a striker of such importance.

He said: "With Dicko, suddenly your centre forward who got 15 last year, who's 22 years old going on 23, you're starting to say right okay with a full season next year, at that age you're hoping it'll be that (15 goals) plus.

"Suddenly that changes, does it change the dynamics then of your team and how does your club react? With every transfer window there is that opportunity."