Wolves (H): Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction

While we move one from the utterly predictable FA Cup draw – City away, wow what a shock – the sense that there is unfinished business this season is really noticeable. Europe is still on the cards, even if it becomes more and more remote with every point dropped, and we are finally becoming a fuller squad with players returning to the matchday squad.

After Dubravka’s heroics at Blackburn kept us in the FA Cup, it is important that we also focus on the league given that we have dropped to 10th in recent weeks.

Visiting St. James’ Park next are Wolves who have defied pre-season critics under Gary O’Neil, after many had them down as among the favourites for relegation. O’Neil’s side sit one place above us in the league and have been playing some really nice football at times this season.

In the reverse fixture a brace from Callum Wilson rescued a point for Eddie Howe’s Mags back in October, and it might be points dropped in our poor runs around September and December that cost us a European place.

“We know we’re running out of chances (to make European football),” Howe said. “We need to start on Saturday. We can’t afford to drop too many points home or away now.

“Last season was a totally different season, we were rolling into games with such a good feeling and we built that momentum within our season. It’s been so fragmented this season, it’s been stop-start. The spirit is the same, we have some very good players and very good characters. The only way you build confidence is to win games consistently and we aren’t in that moment now.”

Howe was also keen to highlight the job that O’Neil has done at Wolves, with some suggesting that this match against Wolves will feature two of the likely candidates to replace Gareth Southgate as England manager.

“They will bring a counter attacking threat, they play a fluid style, Gary has done a brilliant job,” Howe said. “They are very good away from home, dangerous opponents for us but we are confident going into the game.”

Team news

Sven Botman is likely to return to the line-up after being rested against Blackburn. Elliott Anderson came on late in that game to make his first appearance since October, scoring in the shootout with what looked to be his only touch of the game – he will likely make the bench again but isn’t ready to start. Matt Targett will miss out, but he is back in training.

For the visitors, top scoring Korean Hwang Hee-Chan is a major doubt after hobbling off the pitch in midweek. Joao Gomes and Marino Lemina have shook off midweek knocks, but Brazilian attacker Matheus Cunha remains injured.

Predicted XI – Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Bruno, Longstaff, Willock – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.

Harvey Barnes’ return to fitness is being managed and I feel that it is unlikely that we will see him start as a result of that, coupled with the fact he struggled badly at Blackburn in midweek.

However, it is a different story with Joe Willock, whose presence is sorely missed in midfield given the issues in that area of the pitch. Lewis Miley has played much more than Howe will have wanted him to at this stage of his development and Willock’s place in the line-up should be assured if he remains injury free.

After Livramento played at Arsenal, I feel that Howe will go back to Burn at left back because of the experience that he offers in that position. He is clearly the favoured option with the gaffer, but it’s a move that could backfire if Wolves start the electric Pedro Neto on the right.

Prediction – Newcastle 1 – 0 Wolves

Wolves will make this difficult, especially since our home form has stuttered so much in recent times. They have won four of their last six away games, two of which came at Spurs and Chelsea. However, I think that we will have taken the game against Blackburn as a sobering reminder of why our standards are so high and I believe we will see the team kick on here.

BUT, the gaps between the defensive line and the midfield must be plugged otherwise we could become unstuck again and again in the run in.

In Howe we trust.