Wolves head to Luton Town in search of a second Premier League win of the season and wolves.co.uk presents the main talking points before kick-off at Kenilworth Road.
#1 Inside both camps
Gary O’Neil has been handed an injury boost with the news that Joe Hodge is back fit and available for selection, having damaged his hamstring against Blackpool in August. The youngster missed the last two against Crystal Palace and Liverpool but is back training and becomes an option. The head coach’s confirmation of his injury-free squad means Rayan Ait-Nouri has no lasting damage from the knock which forced him off last week. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde impressed on debut, while Tommy Doyle has given his first appearance off the bench, and both will hope for more minutes at the weekend. Santiago Bueno and Enso Gonzalez were out of the 18 last weekend but are waiting in the wings to make their debuts.
For Luton, they’ve welcomed Ross Barkley back to training, but Saturday’s game is expected to come too soon for the midfielder. He missed last weekend’s trip to Fulham, joining Dan Potts (ankle), Jordan Clark (ankle) and Gabriel Osho (knee) in the treatment room. Otherwise, Rob Edwards has no fresh injury concerns. One decision he has is if to recall Wolves Academy graduate Ryan Giles, who’d started the first three matches, but was left out at Fulham.
#2 Coming into it
Wolves head into the clash on the back of differing halves against Liverpool. An impressive first 45 had O’Neil’s side ahead at the break, before the visitors came back to win it in the second 45. The defeat was Wolves’ fourth from five games, but three of them came against teams in last season’s top six. The Old Gold will be eyeing Saturday’s trip to Kenilworth Road as an opportunity to kick start their season.
Wolves’ last three | L 3-1 Liverpool (H) – L 3-2 Crystal Palace (A) – W 1-0 Everton (A)
Luton are without a point so far this season but have played one game less due to renovations of Kenilworth Road. Last week’s reverse at Fulham was a narrow one and their only home game so far was another tight game with West Ham United, which came after bigger defeats on the road to Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea.
Luton’s last three | L 1-0 Fulham (A) – L 2-1 West Ham (H) – L 3-0 Chelsea (A)
#3 Since last time
Wolves 0 Luton 0 | 2nd August 2023
Wolves and Luton met just last month in a pre-season friendly at Molineux, and while most members of the squad were handed minutes, a host of players on show that night should feature on Saturday. Matheus Nunes is the only player to play that night and no longer be at the club, while Maximilian Kilman, Joao Gomes and Hee Chan Hwang started and will hope to do so again at Kenilworth Road. Sasa Kalajdzic and Fabio Silva led the line, and although the Old Gold couldn’t find a way through, they were the better side. Since then, S Bueno, Doyle, Bellegarde and Gonzalez have joined the club to provide new options.
Wolves | Bentley, Doherty, Kilman, Toti, Ait-Nouri, J. Gomes, Traore, Nunes, Silva, Hwang, Kalajdzic.
For Luton, they’ve since added the likes of Tim Krul and Ross Barkley, providing Premier League experience to the group. Jacob Brown was still at Stoke City at the time, likewise Teden Mengi at Manchester United. Goalkeeper Matt Macey has since left the Hatters, but seven of the Town players to start that night were also in the eleven at Craven Cottage last weekend. Brown had replaced Elijah Adebayo in the side, while former Old Gold man Ryan Giles had to make do with a place on the bench last time out.
Luton | Macey, Kabore, Andersen, Lockyer, Bell, Giles, Ruddock Mpanzu, Nakamaba, Chong, Adebayo, Morris.
#4 In the media
Ahead of Saturday’s game, BBC Sport pundit and former midfielder Michael Brown was confident Wolves can start adding points to performances.
He said: “Wolves would love more points, but they have still got some really talented players. I was there at Manchester United with that wonderful performance, and it was one of the best things that could have happened in giving them confidence and belief. They managed to win at Everton and against Liverpool they did well, were creative and showed great work ethic. They just have to find a way to win by being more clinical, but it was the same last season as well. With the squad Wolves have got they will feel this is a game they have to go and win.”
Geoff Doyle, sports editor at BBC Three Counties Radio, responded to recent criticism of the Hatters.
He said: “Premier League football isn’t the be all and end all to Luton despite all the hype and hysteria surrounding it. This is a club after all who were playing non-league football 10 years ago and who nearly didn't exist 15 years ago. It’s great being there at the moment and Luton are desperate to stay there - look at the disappointment on the face of manager Rob Edwards after the defeat at Fulham as he half apologetically shook his head that they hadn’t got something from the game. But Hatters supporters see the bigger picture many others don't. On the pitch in the Premier League Luton are making small improvements week by week. It might be enough, it might not.”
