It’s battle of two of the Premier Legaue’s form teams this weekend as Wolves, on a four-game unbeaten run, face a Newcastle United side who have not lost their last six in the competition.
#1 Inside both camps
A patched up Wolves squad headed to Bournemouth last weekend but were still able to come away with all three points from the Vitality Stadium. Head coach Gary O’Neil admitted the match posed the most headaches in terms of his pre-match selections, with Nelson Semedo and Mario Lemina suspended, while injuries to several players during the week meant there were late fitness tests for a large portion of the group. But with Semedo and Lemina back in contention this weekend, more rest for those who are out and positive performances from those who came off the bench against the Cherries, such as Tommy Doyle and Sasa Kalajdzic – who grabbed his second late match winner of the season, it will be pose more questions for O’Neil to answer ahead of Newcastle arriving in the Black Country on Saturday night.
Eddie Howe was dealt a double injury blow in midweek as the Newcastle manager saw both Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy come off against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Howe described Murphy’s injury as ‘serious’, while Isak, who has scored eight times so far this season, lasted just 15 minutes after being brought into the starting 11 in place of Callum Wilson. The duo join defender Sven Botman and winger Harvey Barnes in the treatment room as Newcastle’s injury list continues to swell, with regular starter Elliot Anderson missing the Dortmund match entirely through injury. It is still to be seen if the injuries to Isak and Murphy will put them out of Saturday’s visit to Molineux, while Howe has confirmed Joe Willock has returned from injury and there’s a ‘high chance’ Sandro Tonali could feature this weekend, despite receiving a 10-month footballing ban by the Italian Football Federation on Thursday for breaching betting rules.
#2 Coming into it
The international break probably came at a bad point of the season for Wolves, who were on a good run of form during the three weeks previously. O’Neil’s side are unbeaten in three Premier League fixtures but did go out of the Carabao Cup in the third round to high-flying Championship outfit Ipswich Town in the middle of that run. However, they will take confidence from the points they have picked up in the top flight – and against some big teams – recently.
Wolves’ last three | W 2-1 AFC Bournemouth (A) – D 1-1 Aston Villa (H) – W 2-1 Manchester City (H)
Newcastle United’s upward trajectory continued last weekend with a comprehensive victory over Crystal Palace, which kept Eddie Howe’s side lodged in the thick of the battle for European football, winning five of their nine Premier League matches so far. But having returned to the Champions League this season following 20 years away, the Magpies did taste defeat for the first time since early September on Wednesday evening with a narrow 1-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park.
Newcastle’s last three | L 0-1 Borussia Dortmund (H) – W 4-0 Crystal Palace (H) – D 2-2 West Ham United (A)
#3 Since last time
Newcastle 2 Wolves 1 | 12th March 2023
Newcastle boosted their Champions League hopes, which they eventually realised, with a hard-fought victory over Wolves when the two teams last met back in March. The hosts led at the break after Alexander Isak’s header, while Nick Pope avoided punishment for a clash with Raul Jimenez, as the Old Gold attempted to ease their relegation fears. Hee Chan Hwang equalised with 20 minutes remaining, but Miguel Almiron came off the bench to become Newcastle’s hero, ending their run of five matches without a win.
Wolves’ XI | Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Jonny, Neves, Lemina, Moutinho, Traore, Podence, Jimenez.
While Wolves are almost unrecognisable from the team which started at St James’ Park seven months ago, the only member of Newcastle’s staring 11 that Sunday afternoon in the north-east to no longer be at the club is Allan Saint-Maximin, who joined Saudi side Al-Ahli in the summer. Joe Willock started in midfield, but is yet to appear this term due to injuries, which has seen Elliot Anderson step up. Skipper Jamaal Lascelles has also been involved in recent weeks after Sven Botman’s injury worries.
Newcastle’s XI | Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock, Murphy, Isak, Saint-Maximin.
Heading towards another matchday.#WOLNEW 🔜 pic.twitter.com/n1xItr6nYH
— Wolves (@Wolves) October 27, 2023
#4 In the media
In the Express & Star, former Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards believes head coach Gary O’Neil deserves credit for his tactical tweaks which earned the Old Gold all three points against Bournemouth last weekend.
“I was surprised to see Wolves start with a 4-4-2 but O’Neil is always on it tactically. On this occasion he realised it didn’t work and when they switched to the back three, it definitely looked better and more creative. The timing of the first goal was important and it knocked the stuffing out of Bournemouth. After the sending off, Wolves were patient, moved the ball quickly around the box and didn’t panic. I thought it was a terrific display and they fully deserved the second goal, with Sasa Kalajdzic making the difference again. It shows there is a little bit more depth in the squad with players getting back to full fitness and learning how Gary O’Neil wants to play. I’m delighted for the manager as he’s been terrific since he got here. Now, the results are starting to match those performances and they’ve come a long way.”
Although Eddie Howe said there is a chance Sandro Tonali could feature this weekend as Newcastle are yet to receive official confirmation of his 10-month suspension, The Chronicle’s Newcastle United editor Aaron Stokes feels the Italian’s upcoming ban is lenient – especially when compared to the one handed out to Brentford’s Ivan Toney last season.
“Taking a step back, however, Tonali's ban looks like a lenient punishment in truth. Having admitted to placing bets on AC Milan matches that he was involved in, it's safe to say a suspension of under a year is extremely merciful. Italy Football Federation (FIGC) regulations state players can be hit with three-year bans for partaking in betting on matches they are involved in. When news of Tonali's involvement first broke, the fear was he would be subject to the strictest of penalties. Another huge positive for both Newcastle and the player is that he looks set to be able train with his new team-mates during his suspension. A luxury that, harshly, wasn't afforded to Ivan Toney during the first-half of his eight-month suspension. Another let off for the midfielder. A young player, in a new country after leaving his beloved club, now having the eyes of the world on him as he attempts to overcome a cruel addiction. It's a positive step to see not all football has been taken away by the powers that be.”
