Can Newcastle beat Wolves for the first time since 2017?

Newcastle United enter tomorrow’s match within three points of a relegation position. With Fulham right on their heels and playing on Sunday, the Magpies will need to pick up a result vs. Wolves at St. James’ Park.

Player to Watch

Newcastle United: Miguel Almiron

Against Man Utd, Almiron was the best player on the pitch for a large chunk of the match. Playing in the middle of the attack, his work rate and movement were on full display. With the matchup vs. Wolves, wherever he plays, you can expect Miggy to be a major character in the result.

If Newcastle get a chance to break out offensively, it’s fair to assume that Almiron either found some space for himself behind the backline or used his great vision to find an open teammate.

Wolves: Pedro Neto

With the club missing Raul Jimenez’s production in the attack, the 20-year-old winger has stepped up to lead Wolves in goals and assists. He scored the winner vs. So’ton a couple of weeks ago and will be the main target for Newcastle United’s defense.

NUFC Availability Update

In his pre-match press conference, Steve Bruce indicated that Federico Fernandez still may not be available, despite training all week. He added that Joelinton is “OK’ and that Javier Manquillo and Callum Wilson are progressing well while Fabian Schar is still on crutches and in a brace.

Keys to Victory for Newcastle United

• Consistent pressure. Newcastle pressed Manchester United early in their loss last week, but they took their foot off the gas at some point during the 3-1 defeat. If they are going to have success vs. Wolves, they need to keep that pressure on for the majority of the match.
• A Dubravka special. It’s expected that Bruce will drop Karl Darlow in favor of Martin Dubravka. The Slovakian would be making his first Premier League start of the season. In the past, there have been countless matches that required a major save or two from Dubravka and ended either in a 0-0 draw or a 1-0 win for NUFC. Tomorrow, a clean sheet could be worth its weight in gold for the Magpies.
• Success on set pieces. While they struggle to get consistent scoring from their attack, Newcastle could get back to one of their keys from past seasons: scoring on set pieces. At times in recent years, Newcastle’s defenders have had more goals than the attacking players. The center-backs need to get on the end of a corner kick or free kick and help themselves out with a goal.