Cesar Peixoto, the head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers, is allegedly apprehensive about the availability of Spanish playmaker Fer Lopez as Championship football starts this week.

According to reports, the 21-year-old playmaker has withdrawn from international duty with Spain’s Under-21s ahead of their last European Championship qualifier against Romania on Tuesday evening.

Lopez has had a difficult experience at Molineux since his high-profile move from La Liga side Celta Vigo last summer, but has emerged as one of the Championship’s best players in the opening two months of the current season.

The Old Gold and Black and its supporters are aiming for an instant return to the Premier League after finishing last season at the bottom, and Peixoto’s side has made an encouraging start towards that goal.

Wolves moved up to fourth place in the second tier league with a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion ahead of the current international window, and they still have a game in hand on all other early-season pacesetters.

However, with several big fixtures on the horizon for the West Midlands side, losing Lopez would be a huge loss given his current form.

Wolves confront nervous wait for Fer Lopez’s forthcoming availability.

Lopez has started all seven Wolves league games this season, averaging 85 minutes per game and scoring five goals in all competitions.

Fer Lopez’s 2026/27 Championship Statistics

Appearances

7

Goals

4

Assists 2

Touches Per Game

59.0

Key Passes Per Game

1.6

Successful Dribbles per Game

1.3

Distance Covered Per Game

10.9km

All stats are from Sofascore (as of 02/10/26).

It’s a sharp contrast to his problems in his first season in England, which raised concerns about his long-term prospects throughout the summer.

The Madrid native did, however, make his debut for the Spanish Under-21s 13 months ago, and he has since appeared five times, scoring once.

Lopez was called up again by David Gordo for the current window and played 70 minutes in a 2-1 win against Finland on September 25th, but after missing the 13-0 thrashing of San Marino last Thursday, he has withdrew from the Under-21s camp and returned to the West Midlands.

According to the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the attacking midfielder’s withdrawal is due to “physical discomfort,” but he will not be replaced in Gordo’s roster for his team’s must-win match against Romania.

Wolves will hope Fer Lopez’s fitness isn’t a huge concern ahead of the vital Middlesbrough fixture.

After being so influential for the Molineux outfit in recent weeks, it remains to be seen whether Lopez’s present issues are serious or not, as his club faces an anxious wait.

Many opposing defenders have already had to deal with the 22-year-old and his reading of the game, and such qualities would surely come in handy on Saturday when they meet Kim Hellberg’s Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

The Teesside club, like Wolves, has been strongly tipped for promotion as Hellberg has added international quality and experience to all aspects of his squad, with Borough sitting one point and one spot ahead of Peixoto’s men.

In the event that Fer Lopez is unavailable, the Wolves have depth.

Peixoto will, of course, hope that Lopez is fit enough to play on Teesside this weekend, but if that isn’t the case, the Portuguese has plenty of potential options and quality to cover the gap.

Jordan James joined in WV1 this summer on loan from Stade Rennais, with an option to buy, although he has only played 110 minutes since then.

The Welshman’s creative ability at this level is also well-known, having earned the division’s Young Player of the Season title in April for his exploits with relegated Leicester City, as well as excelling previously with Birmingham City.

As a result, while this circumstance may be sad for Wolves and Lopez, it may also provide an opportunity for James to further exhibit his own skills.