INTERVIEW: Nouha Dicko can't wait for Wolves comeback

New owners, a new hierarchy, a new head coach and 12 new players are in place. But a few constants remain.

And one of them – a certain hugely popular striker who's been missing for more than a year – is hoping to offer a timely reminder to the new regime that change isn't always for the better.

It's been a long, hard road for Nouha Dicko. His season-ending cruciate ligament injury, suffered on August 29 last year, was the first in a series of serious setbacks that combined to ruin Wolves' season.

But now he's back in gold and black. And hoping to play a key role in the Fosun/Walter Zenga revolution at Molineux.

"It's been tough," Dicko told the Express & Star.

"Obviously as a player you're not happy when you pick up a big injury. It's been hard but in the end it can make me stronger and a better professional.

"Hopefully it's the last big injury for me. I've tried to stay focused and work hard. Now I'm there and hopefully all the hard work I've put in will pay off.

"It's been hard just to not play football. But that's all in the past now. I'm looking to the future – and trying to stay patient is important for me."

Patience is certainly the key. The 24-year-old returned to light training at the end of last season and had hoped to be ready to take part fully in pre-season training in July.

But, as is so often the case with players returning from a long-term absence, he suffered a setback when minor surgery to remove a staple from his knee ruled him out of training.

That set him back five or six weeks. But, with two under-23 league games and then a good run-out in the EFL Trophy against Chesterfield last Tuesday under his belt, Dicko is now starting to step things up.

He played 45 minutes against Villa, 57 against Swansea and then 65 versus the Spireites.

He said of his latest appearance: "It was good. It was a step up for me because since I've come back I've played only reserve games.

"I felt better than the other two games. I'm happy I didn't pick up any injury, that's the main thing at the moment for me.

"I had cramp but I felt quite good, quite sharp and better than the last game.

"It's improving each game."

He also almost marked his competitive comeback with a goal – but a party-pooping assistant referee ruled it out.

"I was offside!" he admitted. "I watched it again. That's not the most important thing for me right now.

"Obviously as a striker you want to score goals, but I'm more looking at trying to bring my fitness back and get my football back, slowly.

"Hopefully the next game it'll be a step up – maybe 90 minutes? Against Chesterfield I was meant to play 75 but unfortunately I had cramp.

"If I can play 75 or 90 that would be good. I'm looking forward to the next game already. It feels good to be back in action, especially with the season ahead for the club, I'm feeling really excited to be back and I'm really excited to be fit.

Under Zenga's instructions, Dicko is training full-time with the under-23s – the reasoning being that the first-team schedule is convoluted due to playing so many midweek fixtures.

Dicko is happy with that arrangement, fully aware of the need to pace himself so that people will eventually see the 'same Nouha again'.

"I think it's the right thing for me to be patient and play some more under-23 football," he said.

"It's been a year. Sometimes your body doesn't follow straight away and I need to get used to it. So for my confidence etc I think I need to play some more games here.

"Obviously I wish I could play now with the first team. It's coming. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

"I'm still not quite there, but I'm improving.

"As the manager said it's important to get these things right and not to rush me back into games. I'm quite happy with it.

"Obviously I would like now to play with the first team, but if my body is not ready there's no point rushing me back for two or three weeks and then pick up a small injury, I really don't need that."

While Dicko has been concentrating on his fitness it's been a whirlwind few weeks at the club.

What has he made of the numerous changes at the club he has taken to his heart since joining in 2014?

"To be honest it's the first time I've experienced this," he said.

"It's a bit weird, you see all new people and the faces you're used to seeing at the football club are not there anymore.

"All these people that came in have been really good with the players.

"And it's good they're bringing these players in. They're showing ambition for the club and it can only benefit the club, that's what matters.

"I'm being patient. Hopefully everyone will see the same Nouha again. I feel I'm going in the right direction."