With all eyes on Saturday’s FA Cup sixth round clash with Manchester United at the Molineux, there was international call up news that I almost missed.
On Friday, Portugal announced their squad for the upcoming March international break and Wolverhampton Wanderers had four players included.
.@rpatricio1_, @JoaoMoutinho, @rubendsneves_ and @DiogoJota18 have all been called up by @selecaoportugal for their upcoming fixtures against Ukraine and Serbia.
Congratulations to all and especially to @DiogoJota18 who earns his first senior call-up.
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— Wolves (@Wolves) March 15, 2019
Goalkeeper Rui Patricio, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota find themselves in the group for their upcoming games against Ukraine and Serbia, and it is Jota’s maiden senior call up for his country.
The 22-year-old started the season slowly by his own standards as he made the adjustment to the Premier League level but as the season had drawn on, his form and performances have increased significantly and since December, he now has six goals to his name, including the hattrick against Leicester City in mid-January.
The call up is a good reward for his continuing improvement and development and from our point of view, the confidence shot he’ll take should serve us well when proper football returns. It seemed to work as he found the net against Manchester United on Saturday evening!
Very! Fully deserved, his performances, strength and confidence since late November have made him a real danger to any PL defence just as he was last year!
Keen to know what he did or what was done in November to spark the change!
— MK Wolf ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? (@UFC_Wolf_) March 15, 2019
???????????? Extremely pleased for @DiogoJota18 amazing!!!!!!! Thoroughly deserved!!!!!! Well Done!! ???????????? xxx
— CathyAW45 (@CathyWithington) March 15, 2019
Four players called up to the Portugal first team, class that is ???????? 100% deserved for Jota to be called up as well
— Adam (@Adam_Virgo) March 15, 2019
It was a no-brainer.
— Joseph (@Bloseph) March 15, 2019
DIOGO DIOGO DIOGO ????
— Nick Allen (@NickAllen224) March 15, 2019
Buzzing for Jota that he is in the senior Portugal squad. Fully deserved. #WWFC
— Bradley Parker (@parker_bradley) March 15, 2019
Well done to all 4 being called up and a special congratulations to @DiogoJota18 well deserved ????????️⚫????️⚫????
— Zak Hasnaoui (@hasnaoui_zak) March 15, 2019