Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is being targeted by a number of top European clubs ahead of a potential summer transfer, including La Liga giants Barcelona.

The club haven’t yet been linked with too many potential replacements for the Portuguese star, and that could be good news for some of the younger midfielders in the club’s academy, including 19-year-old Joe Hodge.

A youth international from the Republic of Ireland, the defensive midfielder arrived at the club at the start of the season from Manchester City, but wasn’t able to make his debut for the U23 team until recently, after suffering a serious back injury over a year ago.

Since returning to fitness, he has earned the praise of Wolves U23 Head Coach James Collins, who has been blown away by the impact Hodge has already had on the team.

Collins said: “He’s had such a tough run with injuries, so we all had our fingers crossed that he would get back and then we had our fingers crossed that we hope he’d get through the first few training sessions and first few minutes unscathed.

“He’s been a really good addition to the group, a good addition to the team and he’s the right type of character for us.

“He’s a top guy, he shows exceptional leadership skills on and off the pitch and works his socks off on the training pitch and he’s taken that into the games. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.”

Having already scored one goal in just three Premier League 2 appearances, Hodge will be hoping that pre-season gives him a proper chance to impress Wolves manager Bruno Lage, particularly if he loses Neves.

Now with the Ireland U20 squad going into the international break, he has an opportunity to gain some valuable international experience at youth level to take back to the club, going into the final few months of the season.

In other news: Contact made: Wolves place enquiry to sign “extraordinary” £25m wizard, Lage needs him