Newcastle United have an immediate opportunity to take a revenge on fellow Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers for their 2-0 loss on Saturday. In the last weeks, it seemed like Rafa Benitez’s side are almost impossible to beat this season in the Championship but Wolves created a big upset by overcoming the Championship frontrunners. The loss to Wolves on Saturday saw the mighty Magpies slip down to third place on the table and Benitez will look forward to his boys for a much better display. This all-Championship fixture in the League Cup can prove to be the headliner game of the midweek.
Team news
Goalkeeper Rob Elliot, defender Massadio Haidara and midfielder Rolando Aarons are still out with injuries. Summer signing full-back Jesus Gamez is struggling with a calf problem.
Wolves boss Walter Zenga is unlikely to make any changes to his starting XI that came out victorious from the St. James’ Park. The visitors do not have any fresh injury concerns.
Predicted lineups and tactical setups
Newcastle United
Magpies boss Rafa Benitez is likely to opt for a 4-4-1-1 formation against Wolves. Matz Sels is likely to keep his place under the bar. With Vurnon Anita missing with a red card, we expect DeAndre Yedlin to start in the right-back position. Ciaran Clark is expected to start at the back alongside Jamaal Lascelles. Paul Dummett is expected to keep his place in the left-back position. Jonjo Shelvey could start in the middle of the park alongside Issac Hayden. Christian Atsu might feature on the left flank with Matt Ritchie keeping his place on the right. Momo Diame is likely to start as the secondary forward behind Dwight Gayle.
Starting XI: Sels; Yedlin, Clark, Lascelles, Dummett; Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Atsu; Diame; Gayle
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Walter Zenga is expected to stick to a 4-2-3-1 formation against the Magpies. Ikeme will start under the bar for the visitors behind the back four of Matt Doherty, Dominic Iofra, Daniel Batth and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson. We expect Conor Coady to get a start in midfield alongside Romain Saiss. David Edwards will start as the number ten. Helder Costa and Joao Teixeira are likely to start on the flanks. Swedish forward Jón Dadi Bödvarsson is likely to start up front for the visiting side.
Starting XI: Ikeme; Doherty, Iofra, Batth, Borthwick-Jackson; Coady, Saiss, Costa, Edwards, Teixeira; Bödvarsson
Betting Odds
Newcastle United win @1.66
Draw @3.80
Wolverhampton Wanderers win @6.00
