Wolves stars hope to reach World Cup
A number of Wolves players are away on international duty over the next week – and three of them could return to Compton Park having helped secure their nation a place in the World Cup.
Romain Saiss, Matt Doherty and Alfred N’Diaye are away with Morocco, Republic of Ireland and Senegal, who are all close to qualifying.
Morocco top their group with one game to play and face a potentially nailbiting game away at second-placed Ivory Coast, with the winner qualifying for Russia 2018, while Morocco will also go through with a draw.
Saiss plays in central defence for his country and they’ve yet to concede a goal in qualifying.
Doherty has yet to win an Ireland cap but had made the cut for Martin O’Neill’s squad for a two-legged play-off against Denmark, with Ireland away on Saturday and then at home in Dublin on Tuesday.
Middlesbrough’s Cyrus Christie is expected to play at right back but Doherty is next in line should he be needed.
N’Diaye will hope to feature for Senegal who will qualify with a win away at South Africa on Friday. If not they host he same opponents in Senegal next Tuesday.
Elsewhere midfielder Ruben Neves will look to win his third senior cap after being recalled to the Portugal squad for games against Saudi Arabia and USA, both at home, on Friday and Tuesday.
Portugal have qualified for Russia 2018 and if the 20-year-old impresses it will be a timely reminder for boss Fernando Santos.
Two more midfielders have also been called up to senior squads, namely Lee Evans and Prince Oniangue.
Evans is currently with League One side Wigan Athletic and scored a 25-yard screamer at the weekend.
The 23-year-old, who is joined in what may be Chris Coleman’s final Wales squad by former Wolves men David Edwards, Wayne Hennessey and Sam Vokes, could be handed his senior bow.
Oniangue will again join up with Congo as they take on Uganda on Sunday in a dead rubber with both teams having already failed to qualify for Russia.
Several Wolves players are also involved at youth level.
Diogo Jota is with Portugal Under-21s who play in Romania on Friday and then host Switzerland in Portugal on Tuesday.
Young left wing back Ruben Vinagre will play for Portugal Under-19s when they play Spain on Tuesday.
Midfielder Connor Ronan has been called up to the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad for a European Championship qualifier away at Norway on Tuesday.
And goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne is on the standby list for England Under-21s.
They have a qualifier away at Ukraine on Friday.
