Nouha Dicko undergoes surgery to repair ACL tear

The 23-year-old spent three days in a London hospital following extensive surgery after suffering the season ending injury during the 2-1 win over Charlton last month.

Coach Kenny Jackett is giving Dicko all the support the forward needs:

"Nouha has had his operation and the work has been done on his knee.

"It is major surgery he has had and a major injury which is a setback for him as it does effectively rule him out for the season.

"He has got good determination and focus about him as an individual which is really good to see.

"He is determined to get over this and battle back, and he has very good personal qualities which will stand him in good stead.

"He will have all the support from the club – physical and mental – throughout the year because it is a difficult time when you are injured, especially when it is long term."

Once back at Compton Park next week Dicko will then be under the care of the Wolves' medical department to progress him back to fitness.

"It is really tough for Nouha," said Head of Medical Phil Hayward.

"It is a really serious injury which is going to keep him out for a significant period of time and it is the timing of it as well, being at the start of the season.

"There is a lot to deal with there and it is a difficult one to take.

"He had the surgery and stayed in for hospital for three nights which gives an indication of how serious the operation was.

"He is due out today, and the rehabilitation starts straightaway.

"I was down there for the surgery and started off with some simple exercises after the operation and the physio at the hospital was then overseeing those for the last few days.

"He will be back with us next week for the first phase which after surgery is all about getting the inflammation settled down.

"Once that is under control you can move on towards things like range of movement and getting some movement back into the joint.

"There is then a fairly gradual step-wide process in place going towards being back out on the grass again.

"There is a long period of time before that happens and a lot of hurdles to overcome.

"The first part of any injury like this is dealing with it psychologically, and Nouha has done that very quickly.

"He knows he can't rush the process and it will take time but the fact he is very positive about the rehab process bodes well for his recovery.

"That helps the medical team as well because if they haven't managed to deal with the mental side, it is harder to get them to do some of the more difficult things involved in the recovery.

"If the players is in a good frame of mind to start with and is positive, it does allow us to push things along."