Wolves secured their spot in the FA Cup Fourth Round with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Bristol City and now turn their focus back to the Premier League, where they face a challenging away fixture against Newcastle United.
The victory over Liam Manning’s side came courtesy of goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rodrigo Gomes, but the Midlands club now faces a tougher test as they prepare to meet Eddie Howe’s high-flying Magpies at St. James’ Park.
Vitor Pereira’s preparations for this crucial match have been dealt a significant blow, with the Wolves manager confirming he expects to be without three key defenders.
Vitor Pereira Confirms Defensive Trio Likely to Miss Newcastle Clash
Toti Gomes, Craig Dawson, and Nelson Semedo were all absent from the FA Cup tie against Bristol City, and their injuries are set to keep them sidelined for the midweek Premier League encounter.
Gomes has been out with a thigh injury since last month, while both Dawson and Semedo sustained knocks earlier in January.
Despite initial optimism that one of the three might return for Wednesday night’s game, Pereira has revealed they will require additional time to recover.
While their absence is a blow to Wolves’ hopes, it does open the door for a Premier League debut for one of their newest recruits.
Emmanuel Agbadou Set for Premier League Bow
January signing Emmanuel Agbadou made his debut for Wolves against Bristol City, delivering a solid performance in difficult circumstances.
“Agbadou’s performance was consistent, not easy on the left-hand side at centre-back, but he did well – he knows the ball never stops, no time to breathe, and he realised today the speed of the game,” Pereira said after the match.
With injuries mounting in defense, the 27-year-old will now prepare for his first Premier League appearance. He is likely to start against Newcastle, where he will face the daunting task of containing one of the league’s most dynamic attacking units.
Pereira has already cautioned Agbadou about the intensity of Premier League football, and the Ivorian defender will need to heed that advice quickly.
Newcastle’s pace and precision on the counter-attack are well-known, and any lapses in concentration could put Wolves under immense pressure.
Wolves Face a Must-Win Scenario
Currently in a precarious position in the league table, Wolves could climb to 16th with a positive result against Newcastle. However, Pereira and his team are under no illusions about the challenge ahead.
Agbadou and his teammates will need to deliver a near-flawless performance if they hope to take anything back to the Midlands. With Newcastle in strong form and Wolves battling injuries, this match could be pivotal in their fight to climb out of the relegation zone.
