Preview– Wolves v Sheffield United: Anticipated clash has added intrigue

Preamble

Wolves

As if the prospect of a full house at a floodlit Molineux, plus a chance to edge closer to promotion and exact revenge on one of only four teams to beat Wolves this season wasn’t enough...

The return of Benik Afobe has added even more intrigue and excitement to a televised clash that also includes the sub-plot of three (more) ex-Wolves players returning to Molineux.

Will Afobe start? Nuno has rarely changed a winning XI this season...indeed he has had the luxury of making the fewest changes in the league over the course of the season and while Afobe has started three games this month his last appearance was on January 17, so a spot on the bench seems more likely.

Diogo Jota, Ivan Cavaleiro and Helder Costa led Ipswich on a merry dance last weekend, regularly carving the Tractor Boys open in a game that should have ended as a rout.

Only a finishing touch was lacking – and that’s where Wolves hope Afobe will fill in, particularly with Leo Bonatini enduring an 11-game goalless drought.

Nuno has a plethora of quality options at his disposal as he engineers going on another long unbeaten run – one which, if it lasts as long as the last one, will end in promotion.

And while Afobe’s unexpected return arguably gives Wolves the most enviable strike force in the league, it does present the head coach with what could now be a weekly selection conundrum, namely leaving one of his six loanees (Afobe, Bonatini, Jota, Willy Boly, Alfred N’Diaye or Ruben Vinagre) out of his matchday 18, to comply with EFL rules.

Whether he starts or not Afobe can't wait to return to Molineux.

“I haven’t been to Molineux yet but I can’t wait until Saturday and the fans obviously took to me when I was here – hopefully I can do my best to work hard for them and the club and it can be a great time for me here again," he said after signing on loan from Bournemouth.

“Hopefully I can score a few goals and the fans will be singing my name again at Molineux.”

Romain Saiss will be assessed after a hamstring strain caused him to miss the Ipswich win.

Sheffield United

When Sheffield United beat Wolves 2-0 last September, they were sitting pretty in second place after 10 games and seemingly set to rival Wolves for automatic promotion.

Nineteen matches later the Blades have slipped to seventh, 19 points behind Nuno Espirito Santo’s team and eight behind second-placed Derby County.

It will take a huge effort to secure a second successive automatic promotion from this point.

But boss Chris Wilder knows if they can regain the winning form that saw them storm League One and rise to the top echelons of the Championship in the opening weeks of this season they’ll be in with a shout.

While many clubs including Wolves were busy doing some last-minute business on transfer deadline day, United had wrapped up all their deals two weeks earlier.

Ryan Leonard moved from Southend United, striker James Wilson joined on loan from Manchester United, Charlton forward Ricky Holmes signed on a permanent deal and they also brought in Wolves’ Lee Evans – who could play against his former team tomorrow.

If he does, he’s likely to join two more ex-Wolves players in the form of Richard Stearman and Leon Clarke, who scored both goals in the September encounter at Bramall Lane.

Speaking about his January business, Wilder said: “We wanted to get our business done early and we were able to do that.

“It’s not always possible but it’s important to try. We’re looking at what we’ve got and the plan for the summer now, the next window.”

Evans made the switch in a £750,000 deal after impressing on loan with League One leaders Wigan.

He has started the last two games in central midfield, including Tuesday’s last-gasp 1-0 defeat at home to Villa.

Evans said it had been easy to settle at his new club.

“The seamless transition is down to the manager and the boys, it’s a great set of lads and you feel welcome straight away,” he said.

“In terms of the system it’s one I know and understand, and the manager just wants me to go and play my natural game. We deserved a point against Villa and were disappointed we lost the game so late, but we move on to Wolves now.

A determined Wilder said after the Villa loss: “People will write us off again now, but that’s OK, there is still plenty of life in us. We’re proving that in our performances, we’re on the front foot, energetic and really going for games.”

Predicted line ups

Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Neves, N'Diaye, Douglas; Costa, Jota, Cavaleiro. Subs: Norris, Batth, Miranda, Saiss, Gibbs-White, Afobe, Bonatini.

Sheffield United (3-5-2): Moore; Basham, Stearman, O'Connell; Baldock, Leonard, Evans, Fleck, Stevens; Clarke, Wilson.

Key players

Wolves: Conor Coady – All eyes will be on Benik Afobe but another ex-Wolves man Leon Clarke will need Wolves’ full attention, which is where Conor Coady – sent off in the return fixture – comes in.

Sheffield United: Leon Clarke – A man well known to Wolves fans after coming through the club’s academy and making 103 league appearances during two spells. Clarke, now aged 32, is enjoying a new lease of life at Bramall Lane and has netted 15 times in 26 games this season including nine in a remarkable four-game spell.

Past five meetings

September 27, 2017 (Ch): Sheff Utd 2 (Clarke 39, 58) Wolves 0

March 22, 2014 (L1): Sheff Utd 0 Wolves 2 (Henry 13, Edwards 53)

September 28, 2013 (L1): Wolves 2 (Griffiths 66, Sako 90) Sheff Utd 0

December 26, 2008 (Ch): Wolves 1 (Collins 19) Sheff Utd 1 (Beattie 22)

November 25, 2008 (Ch) Sheff Utd 1 (Spring 75) Wolves 3 (Iwelumo 5, 59, Ebanks-Blake 63)