Wolves will kick off the Vitor Pereira era with a trip to Leicester City on Sunday.
Following a disastrous first few months of the season, there is a feeling of excitement from some of the fanbase as Wolves enter a new era.
Pereira was named as the new manager of Wolves on Thursday, and he’s since been hard at work on the training ground.
The 56-year-old’s priority is to improve a defence that has conceded 40 goals in 16 games this term but also improve the fractured mentality of the squad.
In the build-up to Gary O’Neil being sacked, some first-team members lost their heads in games. Mario Lemina was stripped of his captaincy after kicking off against West Ham while Matheus Cunha ripped the glasses off an Ipswich security guard.
Cunha wasn’t the only one who let his anger at the better of him, as Rayan Ait-Nouri was sent off at full-time and will miss this weekend’s clash.
Paul Merson on Rayan Ait-Nouri being a ‘massive’ loss
The 23-year-old can have no complaints after receiving a one-match ban as the Algerian showed his petulance in defeat and was punished as a result.
It’s a shame he isn’t available to play Leicester as Ait-Nouri can flourish in Pereira’s system, with the Portuguese boss encouraging his full-backs to push high.
Ait-Nouri has been exposed defensively this term, but perhaps under a new manager, he will play him permanently as a winger or drill him to be more disciplined in his own half.
| Rayan Ait-Nouri 2024/25 Premier League stats |
| 16 games |
| 3 goals |
| 3 assists |
| 1373 minutes played |
Indeed, it will be interesting to see how the flying full-back is deployed in a new style. However, as for this weekend’s game, Paul Merson thinks the Wolves No.3 will be a ‘massive’ miss.
In his pre-match column, Merson told Sportskeeda: “Rayan Ait-Nouri is suspended for this game and it’s a massive loss for Wolves.”
The Arsenal forward also gave his prediction for the clash, and it won’t please Wolves fans.
- READ MORE: Vitor Pereira details ‘approaches’ from other English clubs and why he joined Wolves instead
Paul Merson predicts Leicester City to beat Wolves
A new manager bounce is often predicted at any club but sadly, Merson doesn’t think Wolves will come away from the King Power Stadium with a victory.
He thinks the Foxes will secure a 2-1 win, writing: “This is a cup final, huge game. Wolves sacked Gary O’Neil before this big game and if they end up losing to Leicester, they will be eight points behind the Foxes! Now that’s a massive advantage for Leicester in the battle to avoid relegation.
“If Everton got a result at Arsenal, that shows they won’t go down this season. I don’t think any of the three promoted teams can do that at the Emirates. So then suddenly this becomes a four-way relegation battle between Leicester, Ipswich, Southampton and Wolves.
“With everything that’s recently happened, I don’t expect Wolves to win this game. I’m backing Ruud van Nistelrooy and Leicester to pick up a really important win.”
Perhaps there’s some justification for not tipping a Wanderers win, as they’re winless in seven of their last meetings in this fixture.
However, Matheus Cunha is available to play after fears of an immediate ban, and that is a huge boost for Pereira as he aims to get off to a flying start.