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The Villans secured West Midlands bragging rights in the reverse fixture following a late comeback and will be aiming to do the double over their local foes this weekend. They head into the game full of confidence after securing their Champions League last 16 place courtesy of a 4-2 win over Celtic on Wednesday.
Wolves are in comparatively alarming form having lost their last four Premier League matches, leaving them in the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s late kick-off. Vitor Pereira could use a derby day victory that would lift them towards safety as they look to take advantage of Ipswich playing Southampton and Everton facing Leicester City this weekend.
Here is 90min’s guide to a West Midlands grudge match.
Wolves will be without combative midfielder Joao Gomes at Molineux after the Brazilian was sent off during last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal. He only faces a one-game suspension and will be available for next weekend’s FA Cup clash with Blackburn Rovers.
Pereira is still without long-term absentees Sasa Kalajdzic, Yerson Mosquera and Enso Gonzalez, while Boubacar Traore is still searching for match fitness following a lengthy injury layoff.
Jorgen Strand Larsen was withdrawn due to injury during the first half against Arsenal and faces a race against the clock to feature.
Wolves predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (3-4-2-1): Sa; Doherty, S. Bueno, Agbadou; Semedo, Andre, Doyle, Ait-Nouri; Sarabia, Cunha; Hwang.
Villa will be without Jhon Duran this weekend as he closes in on a lucrative move to Al Nassr. The striker is close to making the £64.5m switch to Saudi Arabia, leaving the Midlands side short in the final third.
Their other centre-forward, Ollie Watkins, has also been the subject of a bid from Arsenal in recent days and …
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