Wolves are still seeking their first league win of the season ahead of their trip to Aston Villa this weekend.
Wolves have avoided defeat against their West Midlands rivals in seven of their last 10 but on current form, the chances of that continuing look pretty slim.
While Aston Villa are flying high with four wins from five in all competition, Wolves’ only point of the campaign came against Nottingham Forest, with defeats to Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle in the other matches.
Despite this poor start to the season and one win in their last 14 games, Gary O’Neil has the full support of the Wolves hierarchy, who are willing to give him time in the dugout.
Time is something that is a luxury in the modern game but an improvement in results and performances will be needed to avoid doubt creeping in.
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Wolves team and injury news ahead of Aston Villa
Wolves were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton on Wednesday night as Goncalo Guedes was labelled ‘excellent’ by O’Neil.
There were some notable omissions from the squad in that clash as defenders Rayan Ait-Nouri and Toti Gomes missed out through injury.
In Friday’s pre-match conference ahead of the trip to Villa Park, O’Neil provided an injury update on Ait-Nouri and Toti, with the Wolves boss claiming they would both require late assessments to determine whether they’re fit enough to make the squad.
While it’s touch and go for the above duo, he did reveal that Boubacar Traore would be out till December with a knee injury that he picked up in the 2-0 win over Burnley.
Wolves predicted XI vs Aston Villa
O’Neil rotated most of his side for the cup defeat to Brighton in midweek as Sam Johnstone was replaced by Jose Sa.
Sa did himself no favours in winning back the number one jersey as many supporters felt the Portuguese shot-stopper ‘lacked confidence’.
It means that Johnstone – a deadline day arrival from Crystal Palace – will return to the starting XI alongside a back four that will have one change from last weekend’s loss to Newcastle.
Starting from right to left, Nelson Semedo should be deployed on the right alongside a centre-back pairing of Craig Dawson and Yerson Mosquera with Matt Doherty coming in at left-back.
Doherty was ‘disappointing’ from the bench against Newcastle but if Toti and Ait-Nouri do miss out, perhaps O’Neil’s hand will be forced and the 32-year-old could remain in the side after starting in midweek.
The £21 million Andre made his full debut next to Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina last Sunday, with that same trio likely to start when they visit Villa Park.
As for the forward line, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde will continue in his wide role on the left. Meanwhile, Matheus Cunha is forming a fantastic partnership with Jorgen Strand Larsen and that should continue on Saturday, although Goncalo Guedes did make a strong case to start after scoring against Brighton.
Wolves (4-4-1-1): Johnstone; Semedo, Dawson, Mosquera, Doherty; Lemina, Gomes, Andre, Bellegarde; Cunha; Larsen.