Newcastle head to Molineux tomorrow to face a Wolverhampton Wanderers side that looks increasingly threatening off the back of their second win.
Wolves have not won at home in the league against Newcastle since 1993, but they already have two wins under their belt this season, contrary to winless Newcastle.
The victories have come against Watford and Southampton, who they beat 1-0 last week, with striker Raul Jimenez scoring for the first time after his skull was fractured in a clash with Arsenal’s David Luiz last November.
As well as Jimenez rediscovering his shooting boots, Wolves also have Portuguese winger Daniel Podence proving a threat. He scored in the second and third round of the Carabao Cup, though Wolves boss Bruno Lage has been reluctant to put him in the starting XI for league matches.
Lage said this week: “Sometimes one player comes in, scores a goal, but it doesn’t mean he must play from the start.”
The Wolves manager is likely to go with his now familiar 3-4-3 formation, with Jose Sa in goal then a back line of Maximilian Kilman, Conor Coady and Romain Saiss.
In midfield there are likely to be changes. Last week Lage surprisingly dropped midfielder Ruben Neves, but expect him back in the midfield against Newcastle, along with Joao Moutinho, Marçal and Nelson Semedo.
Up front is where the tougher decisions lie for Wolves. Jiminez will no doubt be in the middle, with Adama Traore likely to be in after also being left out last week. On the other wing it will then be a choice of Francisco Trincao, Hwang Hee-Chan or the in-form Podence, if Lage gives him a start. Expect him to come off the bench if not.
Regarding injuries, Wolves full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri missed last week’s win at Southampton with concussion and may still be unavailable. Centre-back Yerson Mosquera is out with a long-term hamstring injury, Pedro Neto is out, and Jonny is rehabilitating from cruciate ligament surgery.
Wolves predicted starting line-up: Sa, Marcal, Coady, Semedo, Kilman, Podence, Saiss, Moutinho, Neves, Jimenez, Hwang.
Wolves vs Newcastle odds with Grosvenor Sport
Wolves 13/20
Draw 3/1
Newcastle 4/1
*odds subject to change
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