Positive prognosis has Wu primed

Wu Lei could get the opportunity to make an instant impact at Espanyol after the Spanish club on Wednesday said his shoulder injury is not as bad as was feared.

The former Shanghai SIPG striker this week became the first Chinese to sign a permanent deal with a La Liga club, triggering a wave of excitement and expectation back home.

Wu is still nursing a shoulder problem sustained during China's recent Asian Cup campaign in the United Arab Emirates. It had been reported he would head to Germany for surgery, but Espanyol's medical checks revealed that will not be necessary, appearing to green-light the 27-year-old for a potential debut at Villarreal on Sunday.