'Soul of the team' - Wolves boss hails star's return to fitness

Cesar Peixoto has hailed Kieran Trippier’s return to fitness and claimed the veteran defender represents the “soul” of Wolves.

The 35-year-old former England international endured a frustrating start to life at Molineux when he suffered a knee injury in the first Championship match of the season.

But he was back in action in Sunday’s 1-0 win at Sheffield United, coming off the bench to help set up Raul Jimenez’s 90th minute winner.

Peixoto believes Trippier, who joined Wolves on a free transfer following his release from Newcastle, has a big role to play as the club target a swift return to the Premier League.

“He is very important for us. I think he is like the soul of the team,” said the boss.

“He is an important player inside and outside the team. He has a lot of soul to pass on to the team.

“I feel it in the training sessions. He is competitive in all the exercises, one to one.

“That is the kind of thing I want in my players and he is important.

“He has experience in the game. He understands the game. He understands what I want.”

The Wolves head coach wants two players fighting for each position and Trippier will ease the pressure on Jackson Tchatchoua, who has played at right-back in his absence.

His return is particularly timely, with Sunday’s Black Country Derby now looming large.

“Without him we have been competitive for the games but when he is here, we are more competitive for sure with more options in the team,” said Peixoto.

“I want two players in each position for the season because injuries can happen. I don’t want it but it can happen and we need options to stay competitive.”

Asked if Trippier was eager to make up for lost time after sitting out most of the season’s opening month, Peixoto replied: “Every player wants to avoid injury. In my career I had a lot of injuries.

“It is the worst part of football. Not the mistakes, not the defeats, it is the injuries. That is the worst part of football for players, for sure.”