There have been some curious sights in this strangest of Premier League seasons.

Empty stands, armless huddles, players emerging from makeshift dressing rooms in executive suites… that kind of thing.

And then there’s the sight of Adama Traore being lubed up with baby oil like he’s being prepared for a scene with a pregnant cow in vet drama All Creatures Great And Small.

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If you’re a Simpsons fan, it’s almost impossible not to picture Groundskeeper Willie barging in on Lunchlady Doris and demanding, “Grease me up, woman.”

It’s quite something to witness. Matt Wignall (Wolves’ long-serving soft tissue therapist) works his hands up and down Traore’s tree-trunk-sized arms, preparing him for battle.

And battle is the appropriate term, as The Athletic has been told the inspiration for the oil lathering comes from how Ancient Greek wrestlers used to smear themselves in oil before bouts. Ancient Greek wrestling and Adama Traore; it’s right, it fits.

The result, in head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s wonderfully chosen words, is that Traore “becomes more slippery”.

So what’s the point of all this, other than to make Traore, with his astonishing physique, look like a shiny Spanish Adonis?

The principal effect is to stop opposing players being able to grab Traore’s arms and potentially dislocate his left shoulder again, a problem the 25-year-old has suffered with for years.

It almost scuppered, or certainly delayed, his then-club record £18 million move to Wolves in 2018. Traore’s shoulder “popped out” playing a pre-season friendly for Middlesbrough against Sunderland that July, when Wolves were finalising a deal to sign him, with the move going through two weeks later.

Then, last season, it happened on no fewer than four occasions; against Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux (December 15), Manchester United (February 1), Spurs again in the reverse fixture (March 1) and then finally against Sheffield United (July 8). On three of those occasions Traore, after receiving treatment and having it “popped back in”, played on. On the other, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he continued for a few minutes before being withdrawn as the away end (remember those?) sang “he only needs one arm”.

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Not only was the persistent issue causing Traore immense pain, it also seemed to impact on his performances.

In the first half of last season he was unplayable, but after that dislocation at Old Trafford in particular (it happened in what looked like an innocuous grapple with Harry Maguire) Traore just didn’t look the same. It’s sure to have played on his mind.

Hence the oil, which was introduced after that fourth incident at Bramall Lane post-lockdown and has continued throughout this season.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the preventative measures Wolves and Traore have employed to avoid it happening again.

The Athletic understands Traore works on strengthening his shoulders for at least one hour every day. That’s hundreds of hours in total, and it seems to be working.

Highly experienced physiotherapist Nick Worth, who has worked with several clubs including Manchester City, Fulham, Wigan Athletic and West Bromwich Albion as well as England Under-21s, says it won’t just be a case of the winger lifting weights.

“Shoulders, because of the range of movement they produce, are always very tricky,” he says. “If a shoulder comes completely out and needs properly replacing, surgery is normally the answer to get that stability around the joint.

“If it’s what you might call a pseudo dislocation, that’s when you can still do your strengthening. A lot of it will be to do with joint stability and balance. That might be a lot of work which is weight-bearing and stability stuff rather than throwing weights around a gym.

“You try and make the rehabilitation as functional as possible. A player like Traore is explosive and will be palming players off as he runs past them, so I’d imagine there’s a lot of specific work which is less about lifting weights and more about using resistance bands, to be able to replicate how he gets it when he feels sore.

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“It’s about using ingenuity and Wolves have got an amazing medical set-up now. Beyond their facilities, it’s about repetition, of building it up slowly – and partly for the player’s confidence. If he’s done it four times, he’ll have it in the back of his mind.

“If you can iron out that psychological aspect as well as the physical, he’s probably playing with more confidence now.”

What Wolves have wanted to avoid is surgery, which can usually lead to a three-month absence.

Last summer there wasn’t long enough between seasons (Wolves had just a 30-day break owing to being involved in the latter stages of the Europa League, which were played after the Premier League’s conclusion), while during the first lockdown a year ago it was never clear how long football would be on hold for (as it transpired, there were more than three months between games). And even then there was the eventually-postponed European Championship and Traore’s possible involvement with Spain to think of, as will be the case when the tournament is finally played this summer too.

So, they have gone down the rehabilitation and prevention route, certainly an area of expertise for them given Wolves’ impressive injury record in the past four years.

“There’s more of an emphasis on surgery now and it’s testament to the work Wolves have done that he’s avoided it,” Worth adds.

“Surgery is a good option, but it’s a last resort. Once you’ve done it, your cards have been played. Surgery changes your anatomy and then if he had a subsequent injury and did it again, you’re limiting your options moving forward.

“Usually you’re looking at six-to-12 weeks out. You’d prefer not to, particularly with someone like him who’s particularly well built — he’s a sprinter. It’s down to the pain and the problems he’s had. So full credit to Wolves, the medical team have clearly done a fantastic job with him.”

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The oil was the brainchild of an unnamed member of that expert medical team, which includes club doctor Matthew Perry and fitness coach Antonio Dias, one of Nuno’s trusted backroom staff members.

Traore worked long hours with former strength and conditioning coach Richard Kirby and now rehab specialist Joao Lapa. Staff at the club say the Spaniard is one of the most dedicated and hardest-working professionals they have. He was “managing” the problem like a player would manage an ankle sprain, causing Traore pain and inhibition. But the strength and conditioning work has led to notable improvements.

While the surgery has been discussed, the work Traore has put in has prevented him going under the knife so far.

And the oil? It gives him confidence and reassurance. And it’s not just oil. He’s also covered in a layer of Vaseline – the oil is a second coat on top. Like a human fence, varnished and prepared to specifications.

Nuno said last month: “It was not my idea but it’s a good idea. It definitely helps him. It’s very hard to stop Adama. That avoids that situation, he becomes more slippery so he gets more advantage of his speed and talent.

“It thought it was a fantastic idea by the medical department. It came from the injury he had in his shoulder that was caused basically because of (people) holding on his arm and creating this big impact on his shoulder, so he got injured from that. It was an option to avoid it, thereon we’ve kept on doing it.”

Worth adds: “From my point of view as a physio, you think about what’s going to make a player better. So with the oil, if it’s psychological or actually makes a difference, there’s no harm in it and if it gives him one per cent more it’s absolutely worth doing.

“Whoever came up with that is a genius.”

(Top photo: Sam Bagnall – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images)