Wolverhampton Wanderers Face Defensive Setback with Kieran Trippier Injury
Wolverhampton Wanderers have been dealt an early-season defensive blow, with Kieran Trippier ruled out for several weeks after damaging knee ligaments on his league debut.
The 35-year-old right-back, signed on a free transfer in June, suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury to his left knee during Friday’s 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers. What should have been a statement first outing in Wolves colours instead ended with a scan and an unwelcome wait on the sidelines.
The club confirmed Trippier is expected to be absent “for a number of weeks”, a frustrating setback for a player brought in for his experience and delivery in wide areas.
Injury list grows at the back
Wolves’ problems in defence do not stop there. Yerson Mosquera also faces a spell out after picking up an ankle injury in the same game against Blackburn.
The 25-year-old defender has sustained a slight tear in his ankle ligaments and is set to miss several weeks of action. For a back line already adjusting to new faces and new roles, the timing is far from ideal.
A brighter update on Rafiki Said
There is at least some relief on the medical front. Wolves director of performance Phil Hayward delivered a more positive bulletin on winger Rafiki Said.
The 26-year-old summer signing suffered a high‑grade MCL injury during a pre-season friendly against Maidenhead United last month, just 11 days after joining the club. It looked grim at the time. The rehab, though, has started to turn.
“Rafiki's been working very hard in the gym for the last few weeks with his brace on. He's now out of the brace and the most recent scan looks great, so he's heading, certainly, in the right direction,” Hayward said.
Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is understood to be about a week away from full fitness, offering a timely boost in goal, while Haiti international midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is expected to be another couple of weeks from returning to first-team training.
Wolves now enter the next phase of the campaign juggling absences at both ends of the pitch, hoping the damage is measured in weeks, not in the shape of their season.
