WOLVES striker Leon Chiwome is still out injured and will miss the start of the new season, which hinders prospects of him coming in to play for the Warriors in their September Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya and Cameroon.
Under new coach Michael Nees, the Zimbabwe senior men’s national football team will kickstart their campaign with hopes of getting off on a positive note.
The other team in Group J of qualifiers for the 2025 finals in Morocco is Namibia.
While Nees is yet to reveal his plans for the team, as he battles to secure a work permit, Chiwome, who made two starts for the Premier League side, is tipped to be one of the key figures together with teammate Tawanda Chirewa.
But Chiwome remains sidelined by an ankle injury that he suffered at the back end of last season.
He is yet to represent Zimbabwe and it has been suggested that he is keen on following in the footsteps of Chirewa, who made his debut for the Warriors in June.
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The 18-year-old signed a new four-year contract with Wolves in June, which keeps him at the club until 2028.
With Wolves having signed new players ahead of the season, there are possibilities that they may want to loan out both Chiwome and Chirewa so that they can play more regular senior football as they develop.
Speaking about Chiwome’s new deal, sporting director Matt Hobbs told the club website in June that: “Leon stepped up last year in a tough time, when we had some injuries, and showed the potential he has.
“At the moment, the plan is for him to stay with us, develop under Gary [O’Neil, head coach], his staff and James [Collins] with the under-21s, but while the window is open, there are other possibilities.”