Wolves vs Manchester United injury news - as five players ruled out and six doubtful

Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Manchester United to Molineux on Saturday afternoon as Julen Lopetegui takes charge of his first-ever Premier League home game. It was a dream start to the new managerial era on Boxing Day, as Rayan Ait-Nouri scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner away at Everton – Wolves’ first league win since October 15.

It was a brilliant fightback from Lopetegui’s men at Goodison Park after a disastrous start saw Everton’s Yerry Mina net in the 7th minute. Daniel Podence grabbed an equaliser halfway through the first period and then a resilient display resulted in an Ait-Nouri strike and a glorious three points for the Wolfpack.

The win saw Wolves rise two places in the Premier League standings - up to 18th and now just one point away from escaping the relegation zone. To make matters even better, the Wanderers were the only team in the entire bottom half to secure a single point, let alone all three.

The mission now will be to build on the positive return to competitive play, but it certainly will not be easy as the Red Devils are on a top four charge. Currently in 5th and with a game in hand on Tottenham Hotspur in 4th, Saturday will be seen as a golden opportunity for United to put pressure on their rivals.

Erik ten Hag’s side thrashed Nottingham Forest by three goals to nil at Old Trafford on Tuesday and it easily could have been by more as they registered 17 shots, including eight on target. United also have a slight edge on the injury news front ahead of the clash, so it will no doubt be a tricky home debut for the new man in the dugout.

What is the injury news ahead of Wolves vs Manchester United?

Lopetegui has been optimistic about the potential returns of Boubacar Traore (groin) and Jonny Otto (hamstring), who have both been back in training for a week or so, but they are still doubtful for now. Portuguese winger Podence suffered a knock in the Everton defeat and he will be assessed before the game.

Wolves will still have to make do without long-term absentees Chiquinho (knee), Pedro Neto (ankle) and Sasa Kalajdzic (knee). Chiquinho and Neto are both expected back at some point in the spring, so they will likely see Premier League action again before the end of the season. Summer signing Kalajdzic is yet to be handed a return date.

The visitors welcomed back World Cup runner-up Raphael Varane to their starting XI on Tuesday and he could soon be joined by a winner of the competition, Lisandro Martinez. The Argentine has been on leave since his glory in Qatar, but he returned to United training on Wednesday and might well be available.

Scott McTominay and Victor Lindelof both missed the win over Forest through illness and they remain doubtful ahead of Saturday. Attacking duo Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are expected to keep their places in ten Hag’s starting lineup. Jadon Sancho is severely lacking match fitness and will be sidelined, whereas the game comes too soon for Diogo Dalot, who is recovering from a hamstring problem.

Doubts: Traore, Jonny, Podence (WOL); Martinez, McTominay, Lindelof (MUN).

Ruled out: Chiquinho, Neto, Kalajdzic (WOL); Sancho, Dalot (MUN).