Norwich v Wolves: Nuno's side look to put the bite on Canaries
After having their unbeaten come to an end, Wolves are determined to get back on the horse at Norwich.
And despite losing 2-1 to Tottenham, performance-wise, Nuno Espirito Santo will be asking for more of the same from his players, writes Joe Edwards.
After all, the display against Jose Mourinho’s men was of an exceptional standard. It was smash-and-grab from Spurs.
So, the onus is on taking the big list of positives from that game and taking them to Carrow Road – and getting all three points at the end of it.
If they are anything like they were last Sunday, Wolves should prove too hot to handle for the Canaries.
Daniel Farke’s charges have pulled off some good wins – the 3-2 triumph against Manchester City back in September being the standout – but, they are second-from-bottom, have conceded an average of more than two goals a game and not won at home since that City victory.
Ultimately, if Wolves are to finish in the top seven again, these are the kind of games they should be winning.
No changes are expected to be made to the starting XI.
Adama Traore has trained as normal this week despite appearing to injure his shoulder late on against Tottenham and there is not thought to be any fresh injury concerns for the clash.
John Ruddy and Ryan Bennett are heading back to the club where they spent seven and five years respectively.
Both are set to have to make do with places on the bench, but Bennett is still looking forward to being involved against his former employers.
“I’ve been back there a few times now and done well,” he said.
“Hopefully, we go back there and do so again.
“It is my home town, really. It was a good time of my life.”
Wolves signed Bennett following his release from Norwich in the summer of 2017.
And despite coming in as a free agent amid a wave of investment from club owners Fosun, the centre-half has played a big part in the success over the past couple of years.
The 29-year-old does plan on moving back to Norfolk in the future, though.
“It was the first club that really took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity, so I’ll always be thankful for that,” said Bennett.
“The staff were always brilliant there and I still have friends there. It’s a town my family are going to grow up in and I’m going to move back to eventually.
“It’s a place that I associate with a lot of fond memories.”
He added: “Once the game starts, though, we just want to win. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing.”
Benny Ashley-Seal – who Wolves signed from Norwich after he shone in their youth set-up – is hoping to be among the substitutes again after continuing his purple patch for the under-23s as they lost 3-2 up at Everton on Monday.
Likely Wolves XI (3-4-3): Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Otto; Traore, Jimenez, Jota