Wolves star BANNED from training ground after shock incident with future at club hanging in the balance
JONNY CASTRO OTTO’S Wolves future is hanging in the balance after he was excluded from the training ground following an incident.
The Spain international, 29, was involved in an incident in training last week and was excluded from the squad for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.
Boss Gary O’Neil says the defender will not be in the squad for tomorrow night’s game at home to Burnley – or for several games beyond that.
“Jonny won’t be in the squad,” said head coach O’Neil. “There was a training ground incident last week that’s being dealt with by the club.
“If – or when – he’s back available, we’ll let everybody know. At this moment in time he won’t be available for the coming games.
“I’d rather not go into thing in public. Things happen at training grounds and at football clubs a lot.
“He is not with us at the moment. He’s not training with us. I’m involved with everything but people above me are also dealing with the situation.
“We will update you when he’s back around. I can’t update you any more than that at the moment.”
Jonny, who was signed from Atletico Madrid initially on loan in summer 2018, made the last of his 134 appearances in all competitions for the club on September 30 in the 2-1 win against Manchester City – his only game in the Prem this term.
The former Celta Vigo full back, who has twice returned from ACL injuries, is under contract until June 2025.
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This season Jonny, who can operate on either flank, has been forced to play second fiddle to Nelson Semedo and Matt Doherty on the right and Hugo Bueno and Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left.
Meanwhile, O’Neil believes opponents Burnley are in a false position.
“Results would have been worse than they’d have wanted but performances, which is what Vincent Kompany will be looking at, have given them opportunities to win games,” he said.
“Watching his team, he’s an excellent coach – they’re extremely well organised with and without the ball and they look like they know what’s being asked of them.
“The club looks like it’s in a good place because they did some really good business in the transfer window to get players to suit what Vincent needed.”
Wolves welcome back two midfielders from suspension – Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes as they face the first of two home games this week with Nottingham Forest to follow on Saturday.