Wolverhampton Wanderers are in away Premier League action for the penultimate time this season as they travel northwest to face Manchester City on Saturday evening.
Gary O’Neil’s men put an end to a seven-game winless streak across all competitions with a 2-1 victory over Luton Town last time out but a task of much greater magnitude awaits. City, in fine form with five victories on the bounce, are desperate to win every game remaining to secure a fourth-successive league title.
This weekend’s clash is the first of two incredibly tricky games on the road to round off the campaign as Wolves head to Liverpool on the final day. A home fixture against an in-form Crystal Palace side is sandwiched in between.
The remaining matches may seem daunting but it’s a terrific opportunity for Wolves to experiment. O’Neil can analyse the perhaps less-seen strengths and weaknesses, providing an improved outlook ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer transfer window.
Taking that into account, as well as Tommy Doyle’s ineligibility and Pedro Neto’s likelihood of returning from injury, here’s the Wolves lineup Birmingham World reporter Charlie Haffenden predicts will be named at Etihad Stadium.
1. GK - Jose Sa
Sa is sensationally without a clean sheet since the 1-0 FA Cup win over Brighton. That run is expected to continue, but keeping the score down would be helpful.
2. CB - Nelson Semedo
Semedo was an auxiliary figure last weekend, moving inside in Santiago Bueno and Craig Dawson’s absence. The former is a doubt and the latter is definitely sidelined.
3. CB - Max Kilman
The skipper has been inconsistent over recent months but he remains the best centre-back at the football club. He’s also a goal threat.
4. CB - Toti Gomes
Toti scored what turned out to be the winner last time out, capping off a strong performance. The Portuguese has been quite the unsung hero this term.