Match preview: Wolves vs Newcastle United – Momentum on the line after two cup detours
Newcastle United return to the league after a brief cup filled hiatus that managed to capture two very different sides of this team.
First came the FA Cup third round against Bournemouth, a scrappy penalty win in a match we seemed determined to throw away at multiple points, but ultimately survived.
Then came the sobering Carabao Cup semi final first leg at home to Manchester City, a 2-0 defeat that leaves us with an mountain to climb in the second leg and little time to feel sorry for ourselves.
Now it is back to Premier League business, away to a Wolves side rooted to the bottom of the table. The stakes for this one feel simple: keep league momentum alive, or let January start chewing through confidence again.
Recent form
In the league, Howe’s charges had started to pull themselves back into shape with three consecutive wins, dragging themselves up the table and putting European positioning back in sight.
However, cup football has a habit of revealing things recent league results can briefly hide.
The Bournemouth tie showed that we still have that tendency towards self sabotage when games feel won, and the City defeat showed that against elite opponents, mistakes are punished without mercy.
Thankfully, in Wolves we are not facing elite opposition. However, they are never a comfortable away day, and in fact in recent years this fixture served as one of the most depressing moments in Steve Bruce’s managerial reign. Molineux still has a way of turning normal matches into scraps, and Newcastle United will need to be ready for a game that becomes more about duels and second balls than pretty patterns or slick passing moves.
Team news
The big one is Fabian Schär, who has now undergone surgery and is expected to miss around three months. It is a brutal blow, especially given the defensive injury pile up.
Tino Livramento remains out and is a huge miss for Newcastle United, stripping another first choice defender from an already stretched rotation.
Jacob Murphy is expected to miss time too, even if scans have shown nothing major. Newcastle United will have to manage it based on symptoms, which makes his return difficult to forecast.
There is more positive news on Dan Burn, who is improving and running, and Will Osula, who is close to returning to training.
Given the fixture congestion, Newcastle United now feel like a team balancing momentum on one hand and availability on the other.
Predicted XI
What did Eddie say
On rotation:
“It is always a delicate balancing act, how many changes do you make? The gap between Man City and Wolves gives us the chance to freshen things up.”
On Wolves:
“Wolves are unlucky not to have more points. This such an important game and we can’t take anything for granted”
On transfers:
“It is very fluid at the moment. We are still in that watching or holding pattern and we will see what happens in the next few weeks. All options are available to us.”
On Schär:
“He had successful surgery yesterday, everything went according to plan. It’s difficult to give an exact timescale but it’s around three months.”
On Murphy:
“Jacob’s had another scan and again, nothing showing, so it’s a strange one, but of course you have to go on the symptoms and how the player feels. So I’m sure that will mean a period when Jacob has to come out, for how long I don’t know, but we’re very thankful it’s not a serious problem.”
On Burn and Osula:
“Will (Osula) will hopefully be training imminently. Dan (Burn) is improving, he’s running, which is a really good thing. His fitness will be OK, that won’t be an issue, it’ll just be managing the pain of his injury. He looks in good shape, it’s just the top end pain when he’s fully sprinting, so hopefully not long.”
On Livramento:
“A lot of frustration for Tino because the injuries have come out of the blue, there’s been no reason for them necessarily. He’s very willing and athletic, and puts a lot of energy into each performance. I’m desperately disappointed for him and for us because he’s such an important player.”
Key battles
Wolves’ transitions vs Newcastle United’s control: Wolves will try to bait us into sloppy spells and break quickly. Our midfield needs to show its quality by keeping the ball, killing counters early, and avoiding cheap giveaways that create chaos.
Centre back stability: With Schär out and the squad stretched, communication and structure becomes a major theme. We need Botman and Thiaw to rediscover their early season partnership given injuries elsewhere.
Set pieces and second balls: This has scrap written all over it. Newcastle United have the physicality to win this type of game, but only if they match Wolves’ intensity from minute one.
Predictions and what to expect
This has the feel of an awkward match.
Not a classic. Not a flowing performance. Something more like a test of temperament. Wolves away is the sort of fixture where the lads have to win ugly if they want to be taken seriously as European contenders.
What Newcastle United need is less of the cup chaos, and more of the control seen in recent league second halves: staying in games, staying patient, and staying organised.
With the fixture run about to turn brutal, these are the points you build a season on. Not glamorous ones. Necessary ones.
