The Breakdown | Wolves vs Man United

#1 Inside both camps

Pablo Sarabia is the only injury worry for O’Neil after the Spanish forward missed Sunday’s Black Country derby victory over West Bromwich Albion, which saw Jean-Ricner Bellegarde start in his place, before the Frenchman was replaced by Rayan Ait-Nouri late in the second half in an unfamiliar attacking role following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Hee Chan Hwang and Bouba Traore are still away with their national teams at the Asian Cup and AFCON respectively, but having served his three-game ban against Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Brom following his sending off away at the Bees in the original FA Cup third round tie, Joao Gomes is back and available for selection ahead of the visit of Manchester United to Molineux on Thursday evening. But with Tommy Doyle having performed admirably in the Brazilian’s absence, O’Neil might be tempted to start the same 11 which secured Wolves’ first derby win at the Hawthorns in almost 30 years at the weekend.

With goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfielder Sofyan Amrabat away at AFCON, and the injured quartet of Anthony Martial, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount and Victor Lindelof not expected to be back in time for Thursday evening, 10 of Manchester United’s starting 11 appears to be pretty set in stone. Erik ten Hag does have a decision to make surrounding who will start on the wing, with Marcus Rashford the latest to fall foul of the Dutchman following his well-publicised spat with Rashford’s fellow England man Jadon Sacho earlier in the season. Rashford was said to have reported ill and missed training ahead of the weekend’s FA Cup win over Newport County, but was then disciplined after reports he was seen in nightspots in Northern Ireland on Wednesday and Thursday evening. Whether he will be in the United team at Molineux on Thursday night is yet to be seen.

It's 6️⃣ goals in 1️⃣2️⃣ games for Matheus.

🇧🇷🔢 pic.twitter.com/2kwxvdqrsh

— Wolves (@Wolves) January 31, 2024

#2 Coming into it

Wolves are on an incredible run of form heading into Thursday evening, with O’Neil’s side unbeaten in their last seven outings in all competitions, which also saw the team pick up a possible 10 points from their previous four Premier Leagues fixtures. At Molineux, that record is even greater, with Wolves having not lost a home match in their last nine games, including winning their last three in all competitions. You have to go all the way back to a 3-1 reverse against Liverpool in September to find the last time the Old Gold tasted defeat in the Black Country.

Wolves’ last three | W 2-0 West Bromwich Albion (A) – D 0-0 Brighton & Hove Albion (A) – 3-2 Brentford (H)

Inconsistency has plagued Manchester United’s season, with their recent Premier League results typical of that. A stirring Boxing Day comeback against Aston Villa felt a big moment in United’s season, however it was followed by a reverse at Nottingham Forest. Last time out in the Premier League, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford twice put the Red Devils ahead against Tottenham Hotspur, but Spurs fought back to earn a point in an entertaining affair. United also let slip a two-goal lead against League Two outfit Newport County in the FA Cup at the weekend, but fought back to take the spoils and ensure there was no shock exit.

Man United’s last three | W 4-2 Newport County (A) – D 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (H) – W 2-0 Wigan Athletic (A)

#3 Since last time

Manchester United 1 Wolves 0 | 14^th August 2023

Gary O’Neil’s debut as Wolves head coach saw the Old Gold leave Old Trafford empty-handed on the opening weekend of the season, but the positives were aplenty, mixed with a hint of frustration, as his side missed a host of good chances, before Raphael Varane won it for Manchester United in the final 15 minutes. Pablo Sarabia, Matheus Cunha, Pedro Neto and Fabio Silva all spurned chances throughout the 90 minutes, before Wolves felt they should have been awarded a penalty for a late challenge on Sasa Kalajdzic by Manchester United keeper Andre Onana.

Wolves’ XI | Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri, Lemina, J. Gomes, Nunes, Sarabia, Neto, Cunha.

Only Matheus Nunes is no longer a regular in the Wolves starting line-up five months after their last meeting with Man United, after the midfielder moved to the Red Devils’ city rivals later in August. The entirety of United’s starting 11 from last time out against Wolves remain at the club, although there have been several changes to the line-up in that time. Rasmus Hojlund is now leading the line for the side, while youngster Kobbie Mainoo has become a mainstay in the United midfield. Onana was in goal last time out against Wolves, but with the keeper at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon, Altay Bayindir is expected to start on Thursday night.

Man United’s XI | Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Martinez, Varane, Shaw, Casemiro, Mount, Fernandes, Antony, Garnacho, Rashford.

#4 In the media

The Times’ midlands football reporter Charlotte Duncker has hailed the ‘absolutely remarkable’ job Gary O'Neil has done after Wolves overcame a Black Country derby in the FA Cup fifth round before hosting Manchester United on Thursday evening, where a win would lift them over the Red Devils in the Premier League standings.

"It was a potential banana skin, the last time they beat them in the FA Cup was 1949. They went there after having not won for so long and to be expected to win and controlled the game for 90 minutes,” Duncker told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. “I could list loads of players Gary O'Neil seems to have improved and Matheus Cunha is one of them. It was a tidy finish for the second, nice little celebration from him as well. One of the most impressive things is he's managed to get them scoring. Last season they had so many problems in front of goal and were one of the worst in the league in terms of goals scored.

“Defensively now they look so solid as well, so he's created this team that is going under the radar a little bit. He took over from Lopetegui at the start of the season, there was no budget, he's now been told getting a striker in January is unlikely. The goalposts keep being moved for him and he's just going about doing his job in an absolutely remarkable way. He's got to be doing one of the best managerial jobs in the league.”

With speculation shrouding the future of Marcus Rashford at Old Trafford, Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst believes the Red Devils have a new game-changer who could replace the England forward already in their ranks, in the form of winger Amad Diallo.

“Changes in the attack could lead to an overdue role for the rarely used Amad three years on from his arrival at Man United. The glimpse of Amad at Nottingham Forest last month was one of the few positives for United in defeat. Amad was unwell for the next two games against Wigan Athletic and Tottenham. That he did not even cameo at Rodney Parade was a disappointment. Antony was an undeserving starter though he at least contributed a first assist since May and a first goal since April. Some would argue he has found his level against a League Two team.

“On Thursday, Amad returns to Molineux, the scene of his last Premier League start in May 2021. It is one of only two times Amad has walked out and onto the pitch to hear the Premier League anthem and the first was the week before against Leicester City. A fourth start at Wolves is unforeseeable. In his 94^th match as United manager, Erik ten Hag could play his strongest side. Ten of the starters seem certain and the only uncertainty is over Marcus Rashford. If Rashford is dropped, then Antony will continue. Amad is at least assured of matchday involvement with United's attack so light. That game-changing role now has to be assumed by Amad.”