Vitor Pereira’s side are heading back to the north east following the international break this weekend, with Wolves set for a first Premier League visit to Sunderland since 2012 – and wolves.co.uk is here to preview Saturday’s clash at the Stadium of Light.
1 | Roll Call
Pereira cast doubt over the fitness of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Hee Chan Hwang and Jorgen Strand Larsen in his press conference on Friday. The head coach said Bellegarde is suffering from illness and Hwang has a small injury. Strand Larsen is “trying his best” to make the game, with an Achilles problem continuing to give him pain. There was more positive news around Matt Doherty however, with the Irishman recovering from wrist surgery to be back available, while Toti has recovered from illness and is back with the group.
Regis Le Bris will be without the suspended Reinildo Mandava for Saturday’s game, following the left-back’s red card against Aston Villa. Mandava is one of at least five Sunderland players missing, with Habib Diarra another due to a long-term groin problem, while Leo Hjelde is recovering from surgery on his Achilles. Romaine Mundle, Dennis Cirkin and Aji Alese are also expected to miss out. Noah Sadiki missed the recent internationals with an ankle sprain but has recovered well and will be assessed in training on Friday. Alderete Fernandez has also been assessed after reportedly suffering a muscle strain on Paraguay duty but is expected to be fit.
2 | The Stat Pack
Goals
- Jorgen Strand Larsen | 2
- Wilson Isidor | 3
Assists
- Marshall Munetsi | 1
- Granit Xhaka | 3
Biggest win
- Wolves 2-0 Everton | September 2025
- Sunderland 3-0 West Ham United | August 2025
Yellow cards
- Joao Gomes | 4
- Noah Sadiki | 3
Clean sheets
- Sam Johnstone | 1
- Robin Roefs | 3
Some superb defending from Santi Bueno and Ladislav Krejci ⛔️ pic.twitter.com/b3aMsSdGKw
— Wolves (@Wolves) October 6, 2025
3 | Journey to Saturday
Wolves head to the Stadium of Light still searching for their first Premier League victory of the season having twice come minutes away from claiming three points in their last two top flight outings. Pereira’s side are unbeaten in their last three since a 3-1 loss at home to Leeds United, as they followed up a 2-0 win in the Carabao Cup against Everton with a pair of 1-1 draws after conceding late against both Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion to settle for a point each time.
Le Bris’ side have made an impressive start to life in the Premier League following their promotion last season, currently sitting ninth in the table off the back of three wins and two draws from their opening seven fixtures. Sunderland fell to just their second top flight loss before the international break after coming up short at Old Trafford against Manchester United, but went four games unbeaten before then, including wins over Brentford and Nottingham Forest.
4 | Survival hopes boosted on Wearside
When Wolves visited the Stadium of Light in May 2011, Mick McCarthy’s men claimed a 3-1 win and picked up three vital points in their fight for Premier League survival. Jody Craddock volleyed the visitors ahead from 10 yards against his former club before Stephane Sessegnon levelled before half-time.
But Steven Fletcher nodded Wolves back in front after the break and George Elokobi's bullet header made the game safe, earning McCarthy his first Premier League win at the Stadium of Light as a manager. Despite spending three years as Sunderland boss, he failed to record a home win in the Premier League, drawing four and losing 15 of his 19 games in charge of Sunderland in the competition.
The win lifted Wolves up to 16th in the table, and despite a final day defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers, victory on Wearside proved to be the difference.
Sunderland | Mignolet, Bardsley, Mensah, Onuoha, Zenden, Malbranque, Henderson, Riveros, Colback, Elmohamady, Sessegnon.
Wolves | Hennessey, Foley, Craddock, Mancienne, Elokobi, Hunt, Henry, O’Hara, Guedioura, Ward, Fletcher.
