Nuno Espirito Santo gives injury update on Bruno Jordao and Meritan Shabani

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It was an evening of mixed emotions for Wolverhampton Wanderers pair Bruno Jordao and Meritan Shabani. Both players made their senior Wolves debuts in the EFL Cup clash with Reading but were forced off with injuries.

Jordao scored what looked like the winner on 27 minutes. The Portuguese midfielder, who has been dazzling in the U23 team, opened the scoring in the first half when his long-range shot slipped through Joao Virginia’s grasp.

Jordao and Shabani suffer injuries

But he had to be stretchered off after 42 minutes as Taylor Perry replaced him for his debut. Jordao’s goal looked like it would be the difference until Lucas Boye headed in an equaliser nine minutes into added time.

Before this had happened, Shabani was also stretchered off. The German midfielder, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, replaced Morgan Gibbs-White on 74 minutes. But 15 minutes later, he was forced off through injury.

Nuno Espirito Santo is worried about Shabani’s injury in particular. After the game, he said (via BBC Sport): “Shabani looks like a long one, he is now being analysed by the doctor, then we will know what happened but it looks bad. We don’t know yet. Jordao’s is a different situation – someone fell on him and he twisted his ankle.”

TBR’s view

This is a cruel blow for two young players looking to make their mark on the senior game. Both players have earned their chance at this level and were looking bright before their injuries.

Unfortunately, it is a tough lesson but this is football. From Nuno’s words, we can deduce that Shabani is out for a lengthy period of time. If Jordao has avoided ligament damage on his ankle, his recovery should be more straightforward.