Newcastle United will host Wolves at St. James’ Park on Saturday, with both sides eager to pick up their first win of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Newcastle United are 17th in the Premier League table with two draws and a defeat from the first three league matches, and they will be desperate to bounce back strongly at home vs Wolves on Saturday afternoon. It will be interesting to see if they can grind out all three points here.
On paper, the Magpies are the better team, and they have an impressive record against Wolves. Newcastle United are unbeaten in the last six meetings against Saturday’s opposition. It will be interesting to see if they can pick up a positive result and give the home fans something to cheer about.
On the other hand, Wolves are at the bottom of the table after a disastrous start to the season. The Black Country outfit have lost the first three matches, and it will be interesting to see if they can turn things around.
Saturday’s clash will be a tough outing for Wolves, and they will need to produce a strong performance to get something out of this contest. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Newcastle United
Anthony Gordon continues to serve a suspension after picking up a red card against Liverpool. Jacob Ramsey is also on the sidelines due to an ankle issue that will keep him unavailable for a month. Meanwhile, Yoane Wissa will not feature after picking up a knee injury that requires consultation from a specialist. However, Joelinton is available after recovering from a groin issue.
Newcastle United will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Wolves, with Nick Pope in goal. Kieran Trippier and Valentino Livramento will start as full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Fabian Schar will form the central defensive partnership alongside Dan Burn.
As for the midfield unit, the fit-again Joelinton is likely to start alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali. Tonali will add defensive cover to the side, while Joelinton and Guimaraes will provide creativity and control. Finally, Nick Woltemade will lead the line for Newcastle United vs Wolves. Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga will support him from the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Burn, Schar, Livramento; Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Woltemade, Barnes
Wolves
Jorgen Strand Larsen is the most notable absentee for Wolves, as the Norwegian striker is recovering from an achilles injury. Leon Chiwome is also unavailable due to a knee issue, while Vitor Pereira is sweating over the fitness of Ki-Jana Hoever and Hugo Bueno.
Wolves are likely to shape up in a 3-4-2-1 formation vs Newcastle United, with Jose Sa in goal. In the back three, Toti Gomes will start alongside Emmanuel Agbadou and Santiago Bueno. Matt Doherty will start as the wing-back along with David Wolfe. They will look to keep things tight at the back and hit Newcastle on the break.
As for the midfield unit, Joao Gomes and Andre will add defensive cover and control to the side. Fer Lopez and Marshall Munetsi will start as the attacking midfielders here. They will look to link the midfield with the attack and help create opportunities for striker Hwang Hee-chan, who will deputise for Strand Larsen.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Sa; Gomes, Agbadou, Bueno; Doherty, André, João Gomes, Wolfe; Lopez, Munetsi; Hwang
Key Stats
- Wolves have been losing at both half-time and full-time in six of their last seven matches in the Premier League.
- Newcastle United have four wins and two draws from their last six matches vs Wolves.
- Wolves have conceded eight goals in the last three Premier League matches.
- 18 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams.
- Since winning six Premier League games in a row in March and April, Wolves have picked up just one point in seven games (D1 L6), the first side in top-flight history to produce such a run, while the last team to follow up a six-game winning streak with seven winless games was Liverpool in the 2002/03 season (won seven in a row, then 11 winless, D5 L6).
Player To Watch
Nick Woltemade
Newcastle United paid a club-record fee to sign the German international during the summer transfer window, and he is likely to make his debut here. It will be interesting to see if he can make a defining impact and find the back of the net. Wolves have a vulnerable defensive unit, and they could struggle against his physicality and technical attributes.
The 23-year-old will look to get on the scoresheet and create opportunities for his teammates. Newcastle United will need their new star striker to step up and produce the goods in the final third. The Magpies have looked quite mediocre in the final third so far, and they will look to turn things around now.
Prediction
Newcastle United 3-1 Wolves
Newcastle United are the better team on paper, and they will certainly fancy their chances of getting all three points here. Wolves have been quite poor in the Premier League so far, and this will be a tough outing for them. They will look to put up a fight away from home, but the gulf in class between the two teams is quite substantial.
The hosts have quality attackers at their disposal now, and they should be able to find a way past Wolves’ resistance. A comprehensive home win is on the cards for Newcastle United this week. The Hard Takle predicts a 3-1 win for Eddie Howe and his charges.
