Express & Star

Wolves tour squad revealed: Phil Ofosu-Ayeh left out

Phil Ofosu-Ayeh is the headline absentee from Wolves' pre-season trip to Switzerland, the Express & Star understands.

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A number of untried youngsters will have a chance to impress boss Nuno Espirito Santo during the week-long trip.

But Ofosu-Ayeh hasn't made the cut and it's believed he's not part of Nuno's plans going forward. Oskar Buur Rasmussen, who scored against Hull City during Wolves' promotion run-in, is in the squad ahead of Ofosu-Ayeh who hasn't yet made a first team appearance for the club.

With four of Wolves' international players (new signings Rui Patricio, Raul Jimenez and Ruben Vinagre, plus Romain Saiss) given time off following their international exertions this summer, there are gaps in the first team squad which have been filled by promising players from the under-23 setup.

The squad jetted out yesterday to Wolves' base near Lake Geneva, with Bright Enobakhare thought to be set to join up next week once a visa has been sorted.

As well as Ofosu-Ayeh, Irish midfielder Connor Ronan is a surprise absentee given Wolves' dearth of senior central midfield options. A number of players with first team experience have been left out ahead of expected moves away from the club including Dominic Iorfa, Jordan Graham, Prince Oniangue, Paul Gladon Michal Zyro and Ethan Ebanks-Landell.

That's given youngsters such as keeper Andreas Sondergaard, defender Cameron John, midfielders Pedro Goncalves and Elliott Watt and forwards Benny Ashley-Seal and Ryan Giles an opportunity to stake a claim.

Tall Danish teenager and youth international Sondergaard was signed last January, left-footed centre half John has attracted the attention of other Premier League clubs after a string of impressive performances for the under-23s, while big things are expected of classy central midfielders Goncalves, aged 20, who has featured for Portugal Under-20s.

Eighteen-year-old central midfielder Watt recently earned a call-up to the Scotland Under-21 squad, 19-year-old striker Ashley-Seal joined from Norwich last season and winger Giles starred on loan with Telford and won Wolves' academy player of the year award for 2017/18.

Wolves face Basel on Tuesday (5pm BST) and Young Boys on Saturday (2pm) in the UhrenCup. They have also arranged a warm-up game against newly-promoted Swiss top flight side Neuchatel Xamax which takes place today at 5.30pm BST.

Tour squad

Goalkeepers: John Ruddy, Will Norris, Andreas Sondergaard

Defenders: Willy Boly, Conor Coady, Danny Batth, Roderick Miranda, Ryan Bennett, Kortney Hause, Cameron John

Wing backs: Matt Doherty, Barry Douglas, Oskar Buur Rasmussen

Midfielders: Ruben Neves, Morgan Gibbs-White, Pedro Goncalves, Elliott Watt

Forwards: Diogo Jota, Ivan Cavaleiro, Helder Costa, Leo Bonatini, Rafa Mir, Benny Ashley-Seal, Ryan Giles (plus Bright Enobakhare next week)