Wolves are back in action tonight as they face Brentford in a replay of the FA Cup third-round clash at Molineux.
Wanderers and the Bees played out a 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium earlier this month, with Tommy Doyle’s sensational strike cancelling out Neal Maupay’s opener.
The motivation is well and truly there for Wolves tonight. Win, and West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns await in the next round.
Wolves fans would very much like to see Gary O’Neil really have a good go at the FA Cup, but what kind of team might he put out tonight?
Predicted Wolves XI to face Brentford – Pedro Neto and Joe Hodge to start
Jose Sa played in the first game against Brentford, but perhaps Dan Bentley will come in for the replay, having been training with the squad again.
The defence will be interesting. Max Kilman has been ever-present in the Premier League for Wolves and it’s hard to see him not starting tonight. He could form part of a backline that includes Craig Dawson and Toti Gomes.
Dawson has missed a few days’ training, but Gary O’Neil said he ‘will be involved’ tonight.
Hugo Bueno has trained a few times after a calf problem and will likely play on the left, and we could see Matt Doherty play at right wing-back. O’Neil expressed sympathy with the Irishman recently for his lack of game time this term, so he may play him over Nelson Semedo tonight.
In midfield, Tommy Doyle – who Wolves should sign later this year for £5 million – is surely nailed on to start having been in fine form lately. It is just a question of who his partner will be.
Mario Lemina is back with the squad after compassionate leave, but he may be lacking match sharpness and so, Joe Hodge could be given a rare opportunity. O’Neil has hinted the £5,000-a-week youngster feature tonight, having rarely been seen this season, playing just 55 first-team minutes.
Up top, perhaps the manager will fancy a bit of dynamism.
Pedro Neto has made a few substitute appearances since returning from injury and might finally be ready to start again on the left.
On the right, perhaps Jean-Ricner Bellegarde will get the nod over Pablo Sarabia, who’s been starting quite a bit recently after an upturn in form.
Through the middle Matheus Cunha will surely play, with Wolves having loaned out Sasa Kalajdzic and Fabio Silva, and having temporarily lost Hwang Hee-chan to the Asia Cup.
Wolves fans are optimistic ahead of tonight’s game, and the prospect of a Black Country derby will definitely have the Molineux faithful right up for this one.
Wolves (3-4-3): Bentley/Kilman, Dawson, Toti/Doherty, Hodge, Doyle, H.Bueno/Bellegarde, Cunha, Neto. (5 changes from the first game – Bentley, Doherty, Dawson, Hodge, Neto IN. Sa, Semedo, S.Bueno, J.Gomes, Sarabia OUT).