Eddie Howe believes Newcastle are but to hit “high gear” this season regardless of taking seven factors from their first three Premier League video games, as they appear to proceed that robust begin towards Wolves at Molineux.
Newcastle made mild of Fabian Schar’s crimson card to beat Southampton on the opening matchday, then downed Tottenham 2-1 after incomes a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
These outcomes have the Magpies fifth within the early-season standings, but Howe nonetheless sees room for enchancment so far as their efficiency ranges are involved.
Newcastle have confronted a Premier League-high 54 pictures in 2024-25, with their common of 18 pictures conceded per sport their highest on report in a single marketing campaign (since 2003-04).
At Friday’s pre-match press convention, Howe stated: “We’ve had some superb outcomes, we’re actually happy with the beginning we’ve got made in what’s a tough league.
“Efficiency-wise, we haven’t hit high gear. We’re going right into a spell the place we’ve got tough video games away from dwelling.
“It’s been a really powerful begin for Wolves. They performed very effectively of their final sport towards Nottingham Forest.
“They’re all the time powerful opponents, I’ve obtained lot of respect for Gary O’Neil and the job he has executed there. He’s very tactically astute so we will likely be ready for a tricky sport.”
Wolves, in the meantime, wanted three video games to choose up their first level of the season in a 1-1 draw with Forest, having opened with defeats to Arsenal (2-0) and Chelsea (6-2).
Boss O’Neil expects a tough check towards a group with loads of attacking expertise, hailing Magpies ahead Alexander Isak as the most effective within the league.
“They’ve an abundance of high quality attacking gamers. Isak is without doubt one of the greatest quantity nines within the league for me, so they’re a group which can be going to check us, positively,” O’Neil stated.
“I’m trying ahead to getting again to Molineux, getting again to the group that we all know we’re going to work with from now till January, not less than, and seeing if we will begin to upset just a few individuals like we like we managed to final season.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wolves – Andre
Wolves harbour a doubt over captain Mario Lemina forward of Sunday’s sport, which may imply Andre known as upon for his full debut after becoming a member of from Fluminense.
Between his Serie A debut in September 2020 and his departure, Andre ranked first for possession received (756) and profitable passes (6,574) within the Brazilian high flight, in addition to second for touches (8,440) and fourth for dribbles accomplished (164).
Newcastle – Alexander Isak
Isak has been straight concerned in 18 targets in his final 20 Premier League appearances (15 targets, three assists).
Because the first sport in that run (on Boxing Day final yr), solely Erling Haaland (20) and Cole Palmer (17) have scored greater than the Swede (15) within the competitors.
MATCH PREDICTION – NEWCASTLE WIN
Leisure ought to be a given at Molineux, the place each groups have scored in all 9 earlier Premier League conferences between Wolves and Newcastle.
It’s the most-played particular fixture within the competitors’s historical past to by no means characteristic a clear sheet, whereas Newcastle have solely failed to attain as soon as of their final 23 Premier League matches – in a 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in April.
No Premier League group is on an extended present run and not using a shutout than Wolves, in the meantime, with O’Neil’s males conceding in every of their final 15 matches.
Wolves have solely received one in every of their final 13 league video games, drawing three and shedding 9, and are winless of their final six (one draw, 5 losses). At dwelling, they’ve misplaced 5 of their final six (one win), having solely misplaced 4 of their earlier 19 (11 wins, 4 attracts).
Newcastle have received three of their final 5 Premier League video games towards Wolves, drawing the opposite two, they usually enter Sunday’s match as favourites.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Wolves – 30.3%
Newcastle – 44.5%
Draw – 25.1%
