Wolves will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to 2026 when Newcastle United arrive at Molineux on Sunday afternoon, and wolves.co.uk is here to preview the Premier League clash.
1 | Roll Call
Although he was back on the training pitch at Compton Park earlier this week after recovering from a calf injury, Marshall Munetsi will not be an option for Rob Edwards for the rest of the season after making a loan move to Ligue 1 side Paris FC. Tawanda Chirewa is out with an illness, and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Toti are still unavailable, despite the Haiti international returning to the grass for individual work, while the captain remains a long-term absence. Emmanuel Agbadou arrived back from the Africa Cup of Nations this week, and with no additional injuries in his squad following a positive run of recent results, Edwards has an almost full group to work with, meaning there will be plenty of question marks over who will make the starting 11.
Newcastle will head to Molineux without a few of their regular names, as Fabian Schar remains out with an ankle ligament injury. The defender underwent surgery last week, but will be absent for the next three months. Jacob Murphy is also absent with a hamstring issue, after being forced off before the break in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City, while Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth and Tino Livramento are also out. William Osula and Dan Burn are both getting closer to returning from their foot and chest injuries respectively, but the visit to the Black Country is likely to be too soon for both players.
2 | The Stat Pack
Goals
- Jorgen Strand Larsen | 6
- Harvey Barnes | 11
Assists
- Hee Chan Hwang | 3
- Bruno Guimaraes | 6
Biggest win
- Wolves 6-1 Shrewsbury | January 2026
- Union SG 0-4 Newcastle | October 2025
Yellow cards
- Joao Gomes | 7
- Joelinton | 9
Clean sheets
- Jose Sa | 1
- Nick Pope | 9
JSL with a smart finish 👏 pic.twitter.com/IF2EVvonks
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 12, 2026
3 | Journey to Sunday
Following a first half of the season which was disastrous for Wolves, Edwards’ men have seen light at the end of the tunnel and enjoying a bright start to 2026. Unbeaten in their last four heading into Sunday’s clash with Newcastle, confidence is high in the Old Gold camp. Goals had been hard to come by in 2025, but this weekend’s hosts have already notched 10 in their opening three matches of the new year, thanks to a 3-0 win to earn a first victory of the season, a 1-1 draw away at Everton, and Saturday’s 6-1 domination of Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup.
Newcastle have experienced an even busier start to the year with Howe’s side still alive in all four competitions they began the season in. Last season’s Carabao Cup winners – who go into this weekend sat 6th in the Premier League standings following a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace and a 4-3 victory against Leeds United in the last two weeks – were in the 2025/26 semi-finals on Tuesday night but suffered a first leg defeat to Manchester City. The Magpies are also through to the FA Cup fourth round after overcoming fellow Premier League side AFC Bournemouth on penalties after their match ended 3-3 after extra time, while also preparing for Champions League matches against PSV and Paris Saint-Germain later this month.
4 | The first Premier League Magpies meeting
Wolves’ first Premier League game against Newcastle came at Molineux in late November 2003, and although it wasn’t as memorable as the FA Cup third round clash between the sides earlier in the year – which pitted the first division side against the top flight Magpies – it was still a good point for the Old Gold.
The hosts opened the scoring through Nathan Blake on 27 minutes, but Alan Shearer responded moments later, as the Newcastle captain struck his 12th goal of the season. Despite Newcastle dominating possession after the break, it was Wolves who came closest to claiming victory with both Joey Gudjonsson and Henri Camara hitting the woodwork.
Although Wolves would end their first season in the Premier League by heading straight back into the second tier, Newcastle finished the campaign in fifth place, while also reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup.
Wolves | Oakes, Irwin, Naylor, Craddock, Butler, Rae, Andrews, Gudjonsson, Kennedy (Miller 76), Blake, Camara.
Newcastle | Given, Hughes, Bramble, Woodgate, Bernard, Jenas, Dyer, Speed, Bowyer (Ameobi 78), Shearer, LuaLua (Solano 79).
