Wolves face worrying player concern ahead of Middlesbrough | OneFootball

Cesar Peixoto is facing an anxious wait over a star performer's availability ahead of Saturday's trip to Teesside

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach, Cesar Peixoto, is reportedly facing an anxious wait over the upcoming availability of Spanish playmaker, Fer Lopez, as Championship football returns this week.

It has been widely reported that the 21-year-old playmaker has withdrawn from international duty with Spain's Under-21s side ahead of their final European Championship qualifier against Romania on Tuesday evening.

Lopez has endured a mixed time at Molineux since his high-profile switch from La Liga side, Celta Vigo, last summer, but has emerged as one of the Championship's strongest performers throughout the current season's first two months.

The Old Gold and Black and their supporters are hoping for an immediate return to the Premier League after finishing rock-bottom last season, and Peixoto's side have certainly made an encouraging start in terms of making those dreams a reality.

A 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion ahead of the current international window saw Wolves move into fourth in the second tier table, and they still have a game in hand over all other early-season pacesetters.

However, with some crucial fixtures on the horizon for the West Midlands side, it would be a huge blow if they were to lose Lopez's services given his rich vein of form.

Wolves face anxious wait over Fer Lopez's upcoming availability

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Lopez has started in all seven of Wolves' league matches so far this campaign, averaging 85 minutes per game whilst also racking up five goals in all competitions.

It is a stark contrast to the struggles of his first season in England, which led to question marks over his long-term future throughout the summer window.

The Madrid native did make his debut for the Spanish Under-21s side 13 months ago, though, and has since made five appearances and scored on one occasion.

Having been called up once more by David Gordo for the current window, Lopez played 70 minutes of the 2-1 win over Finland on September 25th, but after missing the 13-0 rout against San Marino last Thursday, has withdrawn from the Under-21s camp and has returned to the West Midlands.

As per the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the attacking midfielder's withdrawal is due to "physical discomfort", although he will not be replaced in Gordo's squad for his side's must-win encounter against Romania.

Wolves will hope Fer Lopez's fitness isn't a major issue ahead of crucial Middlesbrough fixture

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Having been so influential for the Molineux outfit in recent weeks, it now remains to be seen if Lopez's current issues are anything major or not, as his club side now face an anxious wait.

So many opposition defenders have already found it tough to live with the 22-year-old and his reading of the game, and such attributes would have, undoubtedly, come in useful on Saturday as they face Kim Hellberg's Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Like Wolves, the Teesside outfit have been heavily fancied for promotion as Hellberg has added international quality and experience throughout all departments of his squad, with Boro currently one point and one place above Peixoto's men in the table.

Wolves do have strength-in-depth if Fer Lopez becomes unavailable

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Peixoto will, naturally, hope that Lopez is fit enough to play a part on Teesside this weekend, but the Portuguese certainly isn't short of potential options and quality to fill the void if that isn't the case.

Jordan James arrived in WV1 this summer on loan from Stade Rennais - with an option-to-buy - but has only played 110 minutes' worth of action since then.

The Welshman's creative quality at this level is also well-known, having won the division's Young Player of the Season award in April for his exploits with Leicester City, who were relegated, as well as shining at Birmingham City beforehand.