Predicted Wolves XI against Chelsea as James Collins makes five changes to Vitor Pereira’s final lineup

Wolves are gearing up for their first outing after Vitor Pereira’s dismissal, taking on Chelsea in the Premier League.

Under-21s coach James Collins is in charge as Wolves continue their search for a new manager.

It’s a second meeting with the Blues this season, following a gripping encounter at Molineux in the Carabao Cup at the end of October.

There has been some speculation that Collins will trust Wolves youngsters against Chelsea, but one thing we know for sure is that it will be a different XI to what we have seen of late.

Predicting is therefore quite difficult, but this is the starting lineup Molineux News thinks could take to the field on Saturday night.

A back-three suits both Wolves and Collins

Before Pereira switched up formation, he had Wolves playing in a 3-4-3, which happens to be the setup Collins uses with the Under-21s.

The goal is to find some sort of solidity as Wolves await their next manager, so no point complicating things. Sam Johnstone keeps his place between the sticks.

Emmanuel Agbadou is suspended after his red against Fulham, which makes Collins’ choice that bit easier. Ladislav Krejci should take the left spot, and Yerson Mosquera on the right.

Santiago Bueno’s error against Fulham might have knocked his confidence, so Toti Gomes can take centre-stage in the backline.

The midfield picks itself

Two wing-backs and two central midfielders will line up in front of the back-three. Fans made their thoughts clear on Joao Gomes and Andre after their exclusion.

They come back in, no explanation needed.

Providing the width, then, will be David Moller Wolfe — who just edges it over Hugo Bueno after grabbing a brace against Chelsea last time out — and Jackson Tchatchoua, as Rodrigo Gomes and Matt Doherty are both injured.

Tough calls in attack for Wolves

All season, the front line has been impossible to predict. There are a few different approaches that Wolves could take.

What seemed to cause Chelsea the most problems in their recent meeting was long balls, long throws, and general scrappiness around the penalty area.

With that in mind, Wolves should go with both strikers, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Tolu Arokodare, to make it an uncomfortable game for Chelsea.

Behind them, the likes of Fer Lopez and Collins’ men, Tawanda Chirewa and Mateus Mane, are all viable options, but they represent a bold risk that mightn’t be the move for an interim coach.

So Jhon Arias is our pick to play behind the two big strikers.

Predicted XI vs Chelsea: Johnstone; Mosquera, Toti, Krejci; Tchatchoua, J.Gomes, Andre, Moller Wolfe; Jhon Arias; Tolu Arokodare, Jorgen Strand Larsen.