Hopeful on Dicko's Return

Striker continuing to make progress

Kenny Jackett is hopeful Nouha Dicko will be back to make a positive impact for Wolves heading into the 2016/17 season.

The powerful striker missed almost the entirety of last season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in the game with Charlton, just before the closure of the transfer window last August.

The 24-year-old frontman has been making good progress and spent the last few weeks of the season working outside at Compton Park.

Wolves will continue to be cautious given the nature of his injury and likelihood of other niggles after so long out, but Dicko is on course to be ready in early pre-season.

“It will be great to get Dicko back, although I don’t want to put too much pressure on him from that start,” said Jackett.

“Similarly, he’s talking very positively and he wants to be ready.

“He wants to be training from day one of pre-season and ready for the games.

“If he’s looking like that, it’ll be very interesting to see how he can produce the goods in pre-season and how he looks.”

This time last year Jackett had been focused on Dicko and Benik Afobe forming one of the most potent strike-forces in the Sky Bet Championship.

After losing Dicko to injury, Afobe then departed for Bournemouth and the Barclays Premier League in January.

Having Dicko back fit again will certainly give the Head Coach an additional option as Wolves look to improve their goal threat after a difficult season in which they finished 14th in the Championship table.

“From my point of view it is then how we build a team around him, get a compliment, get the power around him, service from the wide areas and midfield, that can put him in a position to get the goals,” added Jackett.