Four Wolves players that impressed in Portugal

The Express and Star were on hand to watch the 28-man squad in training as well as two pre-season matches vs Santa Clara and Burnley.

Wolves face Stoke City this weekend and RC Lens next Wednesday before flying to Spain to face Girona.

They will then finish their pre-season programme squaring off against Celta Vigo at Molineux.

With less than a month before the Premier League season kicks off, here's four players that caught the eye in the Algarve.

Jorgen Strand Larsen

Strand Larsen has started equally as impressively as he finished last season - amongst the goals and the main man in Portugal.

The Norwegian international had a superb debut campaign scoring 14 league goals and will be looking to better that in 2025/26.

The 25-year-old cut a relaxed figure in camp and looks to have benefitted from a rest during the summer.

At times last season, he understandably looked tired and also missed time through injury - making his goalscoring tally all the more impressive.

With Matheus Cunha now departed, the forward looks happy and confident being the main focal point of the attack.

He worked very well with Fer Lopez, threatening the goal with pace and power in the defeat to Santa Clara before opening his account with a beautiful deft finish against Burnley.

Although the striker has only been at the club for one full season, he already looks a leader in the dressing room.

Toti Gomes 

Although Emmauel Agbadou will get a lot of the headlines, Toti Gomes' form in the second half of last season was equally as impressive.

And judging by Toti's play and communication in pre-season, the Portuguese international could be primed for an even more important role this campaign.

In the first game with Santa Clara, he was handed the captain's armband from Vitor Pereira, with Matt Doherty given the honour for the second half - as Wolves fielded two different line-ups.

But tellingly in the second game with Burnley, Pereira chose his best available XI including Toti and Doherty, with the former given the armband for the entirety of the game.

Not necessarily the most vocal on the pitch, Toti's comments during pre-season about wanting to become a leader at the club lends himself to be a strong contender for the next club captain following the departure of Nelson Semedo. 

Ki-Jana Hoever 

There's always one surprise in pre-season, a player who would normally not be on the radar, but show the potential talent they have - step up Ki-Jana Hoever.

Hoever was almost the forgotten man in this squad having signed from Liverpool for £9m almost five years ago.

Since then, the Dutch international has managed 20 Premier League appearances and been loaned out to three clubs, PSV Eindhoven, Stoke City and Auxerre.

But with no Nelson Semedo and Rodrigo Gomes resting following his Euro U21 exerts, Hoever was given a chance to show what he can do.

And the wing-back took his chance, impressing in the first game vs Santa Clara, before providing a lovely assist for Strand Larsen's opening goal vs Burnley.

Wolves' move for Marc Pubill has fallen through making Hoever's immediate presence essential with the Dutchman already appearing to be ahead of Pedro Lima.

Fer Lopez 

The £19.5m man did not look out of place whatsoever despite him being at the club for just a number of days.

Lopez caught the eye in training almost every day and was superb when featured in the first game vs Santa Clara.

He's going to be a real handful for defences this season with the Spaniard's ability to drop deep and pick a pass, but also having the pace and the power to be the last man.

Creativity is going to be key, an element that was distinctly lacking last season as the club struggled mightily during the first half.

Although slight in figure, Lopez's strength on the ball is second to none and should have no problem adapting physically to the Premier League.

His relationship with Strand Larsen already seems to be key with the duo looking menacing in their opening two games.