Nuno 'hoping for the best' for Wolves international stars

Raul Jimenez, Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves, Rui Patricio, Joao Moutinho, Matt Doherty, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ruben Vinagre, Romain Saiss and Leander Dendoncker are currently away on international duty – 10 of Wolves' 19-man senior squad.

Wolves lost Jonny Castro Otto to injury for a month when the full-back picked up an injury while playing for Spain before Christmas.

Nuno says he's proud, not nervous, with so many players featuring for their countries.

“It’s not a nervous time for me and it’s not about being nervous, it’s about knowing that we are very proud, we are very proud that our players are going away with their national teams," the Wolves head coach said.

“Being able to compete for their own countries is very important for them and what it means to them.

"We encourage them, but at the same time what we want is for them to return healthy and to continue their work here at the club.

“But it’s not about being nervous, it’s about watching games and hoping for the best.”

Whatever happens in the next few weeks, Wolves have enjoyed a superb first season back in the Premier League.

They're currently seventh in the table and in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Nuno believes that having the bulk of the squad with him in the Championship last season has helped them adapt quickly to the top flight.

"Everyone was very good, but I think all that we built last season helped us," he added.

"We didn’t change, so we just have to continue. Obviously, the points are different, but the game is the same.

"You just have to focus on what you do, what you want to do, and how you want to play and then work.

"The squad knows the team and the players have ups and downs, there are moments that requires other solutions, that requires another approach; we have to adapt, we have to look for the best way.”

The likes of Adama Traore and Helder Costa have found starts hard to come by of late.

Nuno said of ow his fringe players force their way into his XI: "He does everything that he needs to do, then we have to make a decision.

"It’s a squad that works well. Each game has its own analysis and its own approach, and we have to decide.

“Sometimes we decide to have one player in and think about having to make someone a sub; it’s using the squad, it’s having a game plan and knowing that you have ‘weapons’ you can use during the season or during the game.

“The player has to do what they all are doing – and doing it very well – and wait for the moment to come.”