Newcastle United will be looking to snap a four-game winless streak at home when they face Wolves on Saturday afternoon.
Both Newcastle United and Wolves will have a spring in their stride as they prepare for what appears to be an exciting Premier League encounter on Saturday.
Newcastle United come into the match after winning Tuesday’s dramatic FA Cup tie against struggling Championship side Blackburn Rovers on penalties, while Wolves saw off Brighton & Hove Albion a day later to join the Magpies in the quarterfinals.
This is the toughest moment in Eddie Howe’s tenure at St. James’ Park. With the team down in tenth following a 4-1 hammering at Arsenal last time out and decimated by injuries, they are a long way off the barnstorming mavericks that swept nearly everyone aside last season. They have struggled to keep that high-octane football going under the strain of Champions League football and the demands across all the domestic competitions.
On the plus side, they are still in the FA Cup themselves after beating Blackburn Rovers on penalties. But they have got the draw no one wanted against Manchester City, so even that looks like a pipe dream until they regain their best form.
Wolves, on the other hand, are a very underrated Premier League side and have been a good watch under Gary O’Neil. Their win over Sheffield United at the weekend has seen them leapfrog the Magpies, as they are now eighth. Given the low expectations on his team before the season, O’Neil has done an excellent job, as they are firmly in the hunt for a European place.
Neither side could be separated in the reverse fixture at the Molineux just over four months ago, when they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Ahead of their latest meeting, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams.
Team News & Tactics
Newcastle United
Injuries have played a huge part in the Magpies’ comparative struggles this year. Callum Wilson (pectoral), Nick Pope (shoulder), Joelinton, Matt Targett (both thigh), and Sandro Tonali (suspended) still being out. But they now have Alexander Isak back, and Anthony Gordon, who scored at Blackburn Rovers, is having the most productive season of his career thus far.
Martin Dubravka is the obvious starter in goal after his penalty shoot-out heroics against Blackburn Rovers. Eddie Howe has confirmed that Sven Botman was rested in midweek as he is still working back to his peak levels after a knee injury. The Dutchman could return to partner Fabian Schar at the heart of the back-four on Saturday, with Jamaal Lascelles making way.
It is doubtful Joe Willock, who recently returned from an Achilles injury, will be able to start two games in the space of four days. So, both Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley will be vying to start in midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff. In attack, Miguel Almiron will battle with Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes for a start in attack alongside Gordon and Alexander Isak.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Miley; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
Wolves
Gary O’Neil has confirmed both good and bad news for Wolverhampton Wanderers on the injury front following the 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the Emirates FA Cup fifth round.
Energetic midfielder Mario Lemina has a clean bill of health after an initial worry over a contact injury. But Hwang Hee-Chan has joined long-term absentee Matheus Cunha (hamstring) on the sidelines.
The Wolves head coach quipped that now that Hwang is out, he has no idea who to play up front and that he will have to start from scratch. Pablo Sarabia and Pedro Neto could be tasked with operating in a central role, with the wing-backs holding the width out wide. O’Neil is also expected to recall defenders Nelson Semedo and Craig Dawson at the back, both of whom began as substitutes last time out.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Sa; Kilman, Dawson, Toti; Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Bellegarde, Sarabia, Neto
Key Stats
- Newcastle United have lost just one of their eight Premier League home games against Wolves (W3 D3), a 1-2 defeat in December 2018 under Rafael Benítez.
- Newcastle United have only lost three of their previous 10 in all competitions.
- Wolves have lost three times in their last 15 matches in all competitions.
- Newcastle United are winless in their last four Premier League home games (D2 L2), having won each of their previous seven at St James’ Park.
- Wolves have won three of their last four Premier League away games (D1).
Player to Watch
Alexander Isak
Newcastle United’s form in recent weeks has suffered due to various injury and suspension issues, with the North East outfit aiming to secure European football for the 2024/25 season. Isak has been absent for the best part of a month after suffering a groin injury at the end of January. But he has returned to the starting lineup recently.
The Swedish forward should continue to see the start up top and will be key to Newcastle’s hopes of victory in almost every match from here on out until Callum Wilson is healthy, as he is the team’s only natural striker still healthy, having bagged ten goals in his 18 Premier League appearances this season.
Prediction
Newcastle United 2-1 Wolves
The history books forecast that this match will end in a stalemate, with seven of their last ten league encounters ending all square. Coming at the end of another gruelling week in which both clubs were involved in bruising FA Cup ties, there are question marks over the fitness of both camps.
Although Wolves are missing a natural centre-forward, their counter-offensive strategy and incisive attacking play should still pose an attacking threat to Newcastle’s leaky backline, which is lacking in pace.
As frustrating as it has been to watch Newcastle United lately, they have managed to get on the scoresheet regularly and may do just enough to claim a hard-fought win over Wolves in a compelling contest at St James’ Park.
