Wolves v Newcastle predictions: Newcastle's positivity should win the day

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Wolves v Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 2pm Sunday

Best bet

Newcastle
1pt 17-10 general

Team news

Wolves
Raul Jimenez could make his first league appearance of the season after scoring twice in the EFL Cup in midweek. Chiquinho is Wolves' only injury absentee.

Newcastle
New signing Alexander Isak is eligible to play and Dan Burn is in line to return after missing the EFL Cup win over Tranmere but Jonjo Shelvey, Callum Wilson and Emil Krafth are injured.

Match preview

Only Manchester City had fired off more shots on target than Newcastle going into this weekend, confirmation of a new-found positivity on Tyneside that could prove too much for Wolves.

Eddie Howe's Magpies have been on an upward curve since the January transfer window and last Sunday demonstrated the strides they have made by more than holding their own in a pulsating 3-3 draw with the champions.

The rule of thumb was that if you took City on, you got thumped. Howe thought, 'forget that', and gave it a go, and they were well worthy of the point.

Newcastle entered the weekend in sixth, too early to make rash generalisations about where the Toon might finish, although their odds on staying in the top six have nosedived since the start of term.

But the key to success will not be the odd points gleaned off the big boys, but how they can deal with obdurate rivals like Wolves, a mid-table opponent of long-standing, although they languish in the bottom three.

The difference in outlook between the sides is marked and, with the Magpies flying, Howe's hopefuls get the nod.

There is one negative against them – the absence of Callum Wilson, who has tweaked a hamstring.

Alexander Isak, overpriced at £60m but that's irrelevant for a club who have lost the plot in terms of market prices, has been recruited to step in and he – if not at Molineux – will add to the pacy, direct mix which is making Newcastle such a threat right now. It's probably him or Chris Wood to lead the line.

For Wolves, it's the same old story. Last season ended badly with few goals scored and this season has started badly with the same struggles in the final third.

They have now gone ten league games without a win and last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Tottenham was them in a nutshell. For 45 minutes they were excellent, got into good positions and created very little. Then Spurs scored and that was that.

Bruno Lage's men haven't found the net in the league since the sixth minute of the opening weekend which surely means Raul Jimenez gets a first start of the season, with a possible formation change-up to come as well.

Lage ditched the five at the back in the summer, started this season with a flat four, went to five again at Tottenham on Saturday and four in the week in a 2-1 win over Preston in the League Cup.

If it sounds confused that's because it is confused, and while their stubbornness is beyond dispute, a very clear-minded and attack-focused Newcastle can put them in their place.

Key stat

Newcastle are averaging 5.7 shots per game – at the start of the weekend only Manchester City averaged more

Inside info

Wolves

Penalty taker Raul Jimenez
Assist ace Ruben Neves
Card magnet Raul Jimenez
Set-piece aerial threat Nathan Collins

Newcastle

Penalty taker Chris Wood
Assist ace Joelinton
Set-piece aerial threat Fabian Schar
Card magnet Joelinton

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